893.51/6709
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Counselor of the Department of State (Moore)
The Chinese Ambassador accompanied by his Counselor called upon me this morning to discuss the prospects for receiving any form of assistance from the American Government. Dr. Feis was present at my request.
The Ambassador referred to the strong indications given to him by both the President and the Secretary of the Treasury of their disposition to furnish some form of assistance. He said that he understood that the question of whether this would, or would not, be done is dependent upon whether the State Department would give consent; and that he was seeking a clear understanding of the situation prior to his prospective departure.
After reference was made to the importance to China of our silver buying program, a short outline of the situation as it stood at the present moment was given to the Ambassador. He was informed that one reason certain possible forms of action previously had proved abortive was the lack of knowledge on the part of this Government of facts essential to determine the feasibility or desirability of various suggestions; and that now systematic discussion was going on between the Chinese Commission and the Treasury Department in an effort to ascertain all the facts pertinent. It was anticipated when and as the Treasury had reviewed the whole factual situation, and had given thought to all the possibilities, that the question would again come before the State Department.
The Ambassador expressed the view that one type of assistance— relief assistance37—could be treated in the vanguard of the discussions taking place or apart from them. He reiterated that he had received the impression both from the President and the Secretary of the Treasury that all the important information necessary for relief effort was at hand, and that the matter was simply one for decision. He had in mind particularly a reinstatement of the earlier wheat and cotton loan whereunder shipments of foodstuffs, fabrics (or he added raw cotton), medical supplies, and trucks to distribute these products could be effected. He indicated the view that these products could [Page 564] be shipped primarily to Hong Kong for distribution in the various areas under Chinese Government control. However, he added, in response to a direct question, that the Chinese Government would also consider it useful to have these products distributed as far as North China, through Tientsin and Shanghai—provided the military authorities would permit.
He re-emphasized the sense of urgency in view of the near approach of winter, saying that the prospect that tens of millions of his countrymen would suffer from intense cold and hunger during this winter, unless assistance could be given. He, therefore, said that he hoped any study of the subject would not be unduly prolonged.
- See also vol. iv, pp. 571 ff.↩