793.94119/573: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 28—8:15 a.m.]
1621. For the President. Discussions with those French outside the Government who have done the most to assist Chiang Kai Shek in his resistance to Japanese aggression reveals the opinion that the present opportunity should be taken to obtain a statement from Chiang Kai Shek as to the minimum terms on which he would conclude a peace with Japan which would preserve the independence and possibility of free development of China. It has been suggested to me that this initiative should be taken by the United States through our Ambassador to China and that you should attempt to bring about the end of the war in China and the alignment of Japan with France and England against Germany.
I understand that fear of Russian attack is now great in Japan and believe that you should consider most carefully the advisability of some sort of action of this kind. The French and British have their minds too fixed on Germany to handle this problem adequately.