793.94/16971: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 4—6:45 a.m.]
435. Reference my 431 of November 1, 11 a.m.32 Foreign Minister has now sent me copy of Generalissimo’s message to President which was telegraphed yesterday to Hu Shih who no doubt will make it available to the Department. I am forwarding copy by airmail unless instructed to repeat it by radio.
The message differs in form but not in substance from that originally summarized to me by Foreign Minister.
It is not yet certain that Japan will undertake the difficult invasion of Yunnan from Indochina but I believe it is certain that in any case large Japanese air forces will operate from that base against the Burma Road within China and against the American or any other volunteer air force when they enter China.
It is true, of course, that a major defeat of a Japanese attack upon Yunnan would have very advantageous effects in restraining Japanese ambitions in the Far East.
If it should be found possible and practicable to send Anglo-American air units into Yunnan they should be in sufficient force to maintain themselves against heavy Japanese air concentrations.
Half or token measures would prove disastrous. Maintenance and supply of such an air force in Yunnan would heavily tax facilities of the Burma Road, operation of which would probably need to be under effective military control. Advance depots of supplies would need to be built up at once. Time factor is of utmost inportance if, as the Generalissimo thinks, Japanese are to move in immediate future.
The successful invasion of Yunnan by the Japanese would probably seriously affect Chinese morale and deprive China of supplies for continued organized resistance. I do not believe, however, that it would result in any early solution of Japan’s problem in China. Japan would still find herself obliged to maintain large forces in this country for an indefinite period.