793.94/16967: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 29—3:02 p.m.]
429. The Minister for Foreign Affairs is sending me tomorrow a message from Generalissimo to President which Hu Shih will receive and be instructed to deliver. Following is brief outline of the message as communicated to me orally by [the Foreign Minister].
“Chiang considers concentration Japanese troops in Northern Indochina as preparatory to move into Yunnan within a month and brings forward three points: (1) Japanese move into Yunnan and severing of Burma Road is preliminary move outward; (2), if Japanese are successful in cutting Burma road, Chinese morale will be badly shaken and the policy of resistance endangered; and (3), China has sufficient land forces for defense but requires support of an air force in order to stop the Japanese. Chiang wants British air forces from Singapore and American air forces from Manila in volunteer status. He [Page 740] asks President to use his influence with British. He points out that defeat of Japanese in a campaign which may probably have effect of causing them to abandon plans for a southern move.[”]
Full text of message will be radioed when received.17
- In telegram No. 431, November 1, 11 a.m., the Ambassador in China informed the Department that the proposed message was still under consideration by the Generalissimo (793.94/16968).↩