Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, China

893.24/1318½: Telegram

Mr. Lauchlin Currie, Administrative Assistant to President Roosevelt, to Madame Chiang Kai-shek

[Paraphrase]

[Washington,] April 20, 1942.

General Arnold¹⁸ assures me that any decision with reference to the disposition of any airplanes on the Chinese program rest with the Generalissimo and Stilwell. Arnold believes that the 209 pursuit planes sent, plus 40 more in 10 days, will be more than the A. V. G. can handle immediately. He hopes, therefore, that some of them will be diverted to General Brereton¹⁹ who is under Stilwell’s command. He put this forward, however, only as a suggestion.

18. Lt. Gen. Henry H. Arnold, Commanding General, United States Army Air Forces.
19. Maj. Gen. Lewis H. Brereton, commanding U. S. Army Air Forces in Far East.