793.94/14335
Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek to President Roosevelt40
Mr. President: It has been eight and a half months since I wrote you my last message. During all these months Japanese aggression in China has not only not abated, but methodically increased in magnitude and intensity. From across the Great Wall, the Japanese invading forces have penetrated into the Yellow River Basin and devastated the Yangtse Valley, and have now started their campaign in South China. City after city has been attacked, ransacked and reduced to ruins. Countless men, women and children have lost their lives or become permanently disabled due to utter disregard by the invader of the elementary rules of law and humanity. Death missiles have been constantly rained from Japanese aircraft on populous towns far remote from the area of actual hostilities, even vehicles of civilian communication not being spared. Poisonous gases have been invariably used as a last resort by the Japanese forces whenever hard pressed by the Chinese defender. As the conflict drags on, it becomes as clear as daylight that Japan, though being gradually aware of her increasing difficulties, is determined to use all the means at her disposal to bring about complete conquest of China.
Despite their unprecedented suffering from Japan’s mediaeval vandalism wrought with the ultra-modern weapons of war, the Chinese people have shown exemplary courage and always kept up their morale. This is attributable as much to their ever growing confidence of the ultimate triumph of right over might as to the moral support we have received from you and the people whom you represent. Your public utterances and personal assurances have convinced us that you view our momentous struggle in precisely the same light as we ourselves do. Our victory over Japan means the re-assertion of law and order among the nations. Our defeat by Japan means the complete breakdown of peace and security in the whole Pacific as well as the [Page 322] negation of all the principles of international relations for which the United States and the other peace-loving countries stand. It is undoubtedly considerations like these that have led you to make repeated warnings to the aggressor and show your deep sympathy for the victims of aggression. Words of encouragement coupled with such material help as the silver purchases have produced a most soothing effect on the anguish and suffering of the Chinese people who realize that China at this trying hour has not been forsaken at least by the President of the United States.
On behalf of millions of our bleeding people I want to thank you once more for all that you have done for our cause. May I at the same time on behalf of these same people once more appeal to you to render us yet greater assistance so as to ensure China’s success in repelling Japanese aggression. Being in urgent need of the sinews of resistance, we naturally look to the United States for such financial and economic help as will enable us to carry on the struggle to a successful end. A loan of a fairly large amount from American sources will at once instill more confidence into our people and make us resist Japan’s onslaught with greater force and effect. I wish that the negotiations now going on in America toward this end may with your blessing be brought to a successful conclusion at an early date. I need not assure you, Mr. President, that I shall feel most grateful to you for whatever effort you may exert to increase China’s strength on the one hand and to awaken Japan to the folly of her present policy on the other, thereby bringing about a speedy restoration of peace in the Far East.
- This cabled message, dated Wuchang, October 15, and sent through the Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs, October 16, was transmitted by the appointed Chinese Ambassador to the Secretary of State October 19, and to President Roosevelt on October 20. For previous messages, dated January 30 and October 8, see pp. 59 and 312.↩