893.248/285
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
No. 1792
Chungking, November 9,
1943.
[Received November 27.]
Subject: Investigation of Reported Sabotage of Airfield
Construction in Hengyang Area.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose a copy of
despatch no. 83, October 27, 1943 from the Consul at Kweilin on the above
subject. The despatch contains a summary of the memorandum enclosed
therewith.
This despatch was prepared, and the investigations upon which it is based
were conducted, in response to an instruction from the Embassy sent at the
request of General Stilwell’s headquarters. A copy of the report and its
enclosure has been transmitted to General Stilwell’s headquarters with the
reservations that it must be regarded as secret, that it is not to be used
with the Chinese authorities without the consent of the Ambassador, and that
in the relations between the American Government and the Chinese
authorities, such reports must be used in such manner as not to violate
their confidential character, or to disclose their sources, or affect the
usefulness and standing of the Foreign Service officers concerned.
Respectfully yours,
[Enclosure]
The Consul at Kweilin (Ringwalt) to the
Ambassador in China (Gauss)
No. 83
Kweilin, October 27,
1943.
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the
Embassy’s telegram no. 27, dated October 15, 1943, 3 p.m., instructing
me to attempt to obtain information in regard to difficulties
encountered in the Hengyang area in connection with the construction of
airfields, and to enclose herewith a memorandum dated October 26,
1943,94a describing
the results of my investigation. In conducting this investigation, I
consulted freely with members of the United States armed forces in
Changsha, Hengyang and Kweilin, and cautiously and discreetly with
Chinese officials,
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contractors, and businessmen, and with alien employees of the United
States Army at Hengyang. Although some of the information obtained in
private interviews might be difficult of confirmation in an official
investigation, the general picture is believed to be substantially
correct.
The following is a summary of the memorandum:
Construction work on the airfields in the Hengyang area has been
hampered for a variety of reasons: in Hsiangtan, construction is
understood to be delayed because of a lack of funds; in
Kanhsien, primarily because of a technicality but (it is
rumored) fundamentally because of a fear of Japanese reprisals,
work on the airfield has been held up indefinitely; in Namyung
and Suichuan, dilatoriness on the part of representatives of the
Commission on Aeronautical Affairs has jeopardized United States
Army planes; while at Hengyang there seems to be wholesale
intimidation, corruption and venality in connection with
airfield construction in which representatives of the Commission
on Aeronautical Affairs, the War Area Service Corps, and the
Hengyang Municipal Government are involved, resulting in the
cancelation of one large contract and delay in the completion of
several others. One of the chief sources of trouble seems to be
the jealousy of the Commission on Aeronautical Affairs (which
was formerly supreme in matters pertaining to aviation) of the
Ministry of Communications which has taken over most of the
important airfield construction work and of the United States
Army Air Force which has eclipsed the Chinese Air Force. The
Commanding Officer of the United States Army Services of Supply
at Kweilin has recommended that an investigation be made of the
situation in Hengyang by competent Chinese officials.
Respectfully yours,
