893.00/7–1444: Telegram
Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek to Vice President Wallace 62
The important points contained in your letter of June 27th, which you sent me from Chengtu, are precisely the things which I wished to say but which time did not permit me to discuss with you in detail [Page 239] while you were here. Your Excellency is truly a good friend of mine who shares with me the same objectives and believes with me in the same ideas and principles. What you have said in your letter regarding the taking of positive action so as to bring into play new forces and a new spirit especially meets with my full endorsement and is what I have all the time been sincerely hoping for. Needless to say the Chinese Government is prepared to adopt definite plans for the enforcement of all measures within its power which are calculated to strengthen our war effort and expedite China’s progress. However, if this action is to be thoroughly effective, there must be as you have pointed out in your letter a radical new approach to the problem of Sino-American collaboration. This not only applies to military collaboration but there must be at the same time new methods and concrete measures of collaboration on a political level if the new spirit of collaboration is to be truly thoroughgoing and the Chinese troops and civilians are to be given new encouragement. If this view is acceptable to President Roosevelt I shall spare no effort in taking drastic measures to that end. I fervently hope that after your return to Washington you will confer with President Roosevelt so as to map out plans for the concrete materialization of Sino-American collaboration. It is also hoped that President Roosevelt will send to Chungking a personal representative who enjoys his full confidence and is empowered to work as well as to plan with me in the handling of important military, political and economic affairs in order to effect the dynamic thoroughgoing collaboration referred to above. If this is done it will not only have a favorable effect on the present war against Japan but will greatly accelerate the promotion of the joint interests of our two countries. I sincerely hope Your Excellency will be instrumental in bringing about the accomplishment of this historic as well as positive and constructive task of Sino-American collaboration. Your Excellency has expressed great concern about the critical situation in China. The present situation, however, is in fact not so grave and hopeless as the reports you obtained at the different places appear to have made you believe. The truth of my statement will be borne out as future events unfold themselves. With regard to your suggestion that it would be desirable for me to send to Washington a representative fully empowered to discuss the problems personally with President Roosevelt and concur on my behalf in all decisions arrived at I am certainly willing to take such a step. But I am sorry to say that Dr. T. V. Soong is for the time being unable to leave for the United States. Pending Dr. T. V. Soong’s arrival in your country I have decided to entrust Dr. H. H. Kung with this mission. As Dr. H. H. Kung is a colleague of mine in whom I repose complete confidence he can fully act as my representative and should be able to acquit himself creditably in the discharge of his [Page 240] duties. You are earnestly requested to convey my suggestion to President Roosevelt in the hope that His Excellency will place full confidence in Dr. H. H. Kung and extend to him all necessary cooperation.
- Transmitted to Vice President Wallace by the Chinese Embassy on July 11; copy submitted by the Vice President to the Chief of the Division of Chinese Affairs (Vincent).↩