893.20/519
The Military Attaché in China ( Drysdale ) to the Chief of Staff, United States Army ( MacArthur )28
In a conversation with Chiang Kai-shek at Hankow on October 9th last the Generalissimo gave the distinct impression that he was not entirely satisfied with the work of the so-called American aviation mission. The Generalissimo was at the time of the interview decidedly peeved at the publicity incidental to the Nye Congressional Investigation and obviously resented the disclosures attending its sessions and it might possibly have been on this account that he so openly expressed his displeasure not only regarding those disclosures but with regard to Colonel Jouett and his group of American instructors.
The Generalissimo expressed his conviction, which he said he did on reliable authority, that Colonel Jouett and his American group were primarily interested in the sale of American planes and not in building up an efficient Chinese air force. It is significant that this same idea concerning the intention of the American aviators was given to an American correspondent by one of the Italian aviation mission[s] at Nanchang some time previous to my interview with Chiang Kaishek and statements to the same effect were made by an American business man at Hankow who had no knowledge whatever of my interview with the Generalissimo, hence the idea seems to have some headway in aviation circles. Should the Chinese officials become [Page 316] convinced that these statements are true, the usefulness of the American mission is doomed and the probability of their reemployment extremely improbable.
There are several factors working against the Americans and one or all of these factors combined might have resulted in the present situation. A factor of primary importance is the personal effort of Mussolini to encourage the Chinese Government to accept and retain an Italian aviation mission. Mussolini’s effort in this regard can be judged by the following quotation from his conversation with Dr. H. H. Kung29 when the latter was in Rome about eighteen months or two years ago. This conversation was repeated to me by Dr. Kung during an interview in Shanghai last month. “Since the time of Marco Polo, China and Italy have had cultural affinity.” “My grandson is a Chinese” (referring to the son born to Countess Ciano, Mussolini’s daughter, in Shanghai). “I will send you an aviation mission and if they do not do their work properly I will court-martial them.” “If a single Italian plane is not up to specification I will close the factory.”
Both Dr. Kung and the Young Marshal30 have been greatly impressed by these statements. Both of these officials have been to Rome, both are keenly interested in the development of the air forces and both have no doubt advised accepting the Italian proposals. That the funds for the purchase of the first instalment of Italian planes and for the payment of salaries of the Italian Mission are paid from the unremitted portion of the Italian Boxer Indemnity and that long term credits have been arranged for recent purchase of planes is an important factor. The salary paid the Italian aviation mission is less than one-half that paid the Americans.
While serving the Chinese for a period of two years the Americans have no doubt made mistakes. No work of this kind has ever before been attempted on such a scale and mistakes were inevitable. During these two years, in spite of the excellent results at the school, there have been accumulating in the minds of the Chinese a series of more or less unimportant incidents that have now assumed considerable proportion. There have been numerous reports of trifling difficulties between the American instructors and Chinese personnel of the school none of which are important singly but when considered altogether might seem of importance.
Japanese protests to the Chinese regarding the activities of the American mission might have had an important bearing on this situation. Japanese dislike of American participation in the development of a Chinese air force is well known to the Chinese and Mr. T. V. Soong, [Page 317] when questioned, admitted that this might have been one reason for the employment of Italians. There have apparently been no Japanese protests regarding the Italian aviation activities.
General Lordi and his mission are generally considered a very carefully selected and capable group of aviators with pleasing manners and under perfect discipline. Chinese officials state that the Italians are shortly to open a school at Nanchang and are to build a factory either there or at Hankow. There seems to be a general agreement that General (formerly Colonel) Lordi will be the chief aviation adviser, that he has already practically supplanted Colonel Jouett in aviation matters and that he and his mission are likely to take over the school at Hangchow when the present contract of the American group expires next summer. General Chow, the present commandant of the Hangchow school, admitted that possibility.
The factors in favor of the American group are first the excellence of their work at the Central Aviation School, the more friendly feeling in general for Americans, a greater trust in American intentions toward China and the known superiority of American airships. Both the Young Marshal and Dr. Kung are friendly to Americans and admit the superiority of American aircraft. In a last minute conversation with Dr. Kung who even now is attempting to purchase American airplanes, he indirectly inferred that there was the possibility of continuing one or more of the American instructors at the school. In case any are retained the number will no doubt be greatly reduced.
Madame Chiang Kai-shek has taken over the duties as intermediary between the school authorities and her husband. She is in effect acting for her husband as a sort of secretary in charge of all correspondence regarding the school, its administration and its policies. She is not only a charming lady but an intelligent, capable and interested one. Her feelings are friendly toward the Americans but with even her influence over the Generalissimo it is doubtful if Colonel Jouett’s contract could be renewed even though Jouett desired its renewal which he does not.
Conclusions. The American group is being severely criticized by the controlling Chinese officials. The great personal influence of Mussolini has insured a prominent position for the Italian aviation mission. The Italian mission is very carefully selected and seem to be well qualified to do the work intended. Colonel Jouett and most or many of his mission will probably not be reemployed upon the termination of their present contract. There is a bare possibility that one or more Americans might be retained as instructors at the Central Aviation School but with little or no authority outside the limits of the school itself.
Lieutenant-Colonel, Infantry.