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President Roosevelt to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek 22

My Dear General Chiang: I greatly appreciate having your letter of March 25, 1939, which the Chinese Ambassador here, Dr. Hu Shih, delivered to the Secretary of State, Mr. Hull, for me; and I have read with interest and care your comments upon recent evidences of the attitude and policy of the Governments of the United States toward developments in the Far East and in the world at large. I have also noted attentively the views you express on the situation in the Far East in its relation to world events.

I recall that, in an address given by you at Chungking in December last,23 you declared that “Internationally, our object is to support righteousness and justice, restore the prestige of treaties, and reestablish peace and order”, and you expressed confidence that “The [Page 664] force of world justice will rise, and men of goodwill ultimately cooperate in the interests of rectitude”. Such also are the objectives of this Government and I am happy to join in your expression of confidence with regard to the future.

Very sincerely yours,

Franklin D. Roosevelt
  1. Original forwarded with instruction No. 159, April 17, to the Chargé in China for transmittal to General Chiang.
  2. See telegram No. 622, December 27, 1938, 10 a.m., from the Chargé in China, Foreign Relations, 1938, Vol. iii, p. 436.