893.20/401: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
Washington, January 18, 1933—2
p.m.
6. Your 13, January 16, 10 p.m., first sentence.
- 1.
- This statement also has no basis in fact. The Department is informed that the War Department has informed inquirers orally that a transaction such as described would not be possible.
- 2.
- With regard to the last sentence of your telegram under reference, it is the Department’s understanding that there are at Hang-chow 13 American citizens who are employed by the Chinese Government in an aviation school; that 9 of these Americans hold reserve commissions in the United States Army and 1 holds a reserve commission in the United States Navy; that the remaining 3 are mechanics who were formerly non-commissioned officers in the United States Army but who are now in civilian life and hold no reserve commissions; and that no member of this group has any official American status. All 13 were employed by the Chinese Government on its own initiative. The only connection which the American Government has had with the matter is that, after the Chinese Government had made an initial and voluntary request for assistance in procuring such personnel, officials of the Department of Commerce of the American Government gave to the Chinese the usual commercial assistance in making contact with persons who might be available. Also, the Department is informed that while the project was developing two European governments offered to send to China for training purposes personnel from their national air forces respectively and another European government offered to give the Chinese training in that government’s aviation schools but that the Chinese Government chose to employ American civilian personnel.
- 3.
- For background only. In March 1932 the Department was informed that the Chinese Government was interested in obtaining the services of a group of qualified Americans to organize and operate [Page 105] an air school for the training of military aviators. The War Department, to which this matter was referred, stated that it was not interested in sending an aviation training mission to China and this Department, in transmitting this information to the American Minister to China, expressed the opinion that it would be inadvisable for this Government to take any steps in connection with the sending to China of such a mission. This Department also in April 1932 referred to the War Department a report that the Chinese authorities were attempting to enlist, for the purpose of giving advice regarding military air training, the services of United States Army officers at Manila who have accumulated leaves of absence which they might spend in China, and the War Department replied that, while it was difficult to believe that any officers of the Army were seriously contemplating such action, it had instructed the Commanding General, Philippine Department, to take such action as might be necessary to prohibit any officers of his command from accepting employment or giving advice or instruction such as was mentioned.
- 4.
- While the American aviation group at Hangchow consists entirely of 13 American civilians, the Department is inclined to question the advisability of the Embassy making any formal or public statement in the matter. The Department is inclined to believe that any public statement in this connection by or from American sources, in addition to that mentioned in paragraph 1, should be made here. However, the Department authorizes you in your discretion to give the Foreign Office a strictly informal memorandum stating the facts as set forth in paragraphs 1 and 2.
Stimson