793.94/15483
The Secretary of State to President Roosevelt
Reference, the call which Dr. W. W. Yen, former Chinese Minister to the United States, is to make on you on November 2, at twelve-thirty, noon.
Dr. Yen will present to you a letter, dated July 20, from Chiang Kai-shek, a copy of which, as supplied for your advance information by the Chinese Ambassador here, is hereunder attached.3 Chiang Kai-shek has asked Dr. Yen to “exchange views with you concerning the general situation in the Far East”.
In the letter under reference, Chiang Kai-shek states that the main points of his thought relate to: (1) the upholding of the principles of the Nine Power Treaty, with emphasis upon adoption by this Government of economic measures against Japan; (2) China’s need of material assistance; and (3) the European situation in relation to the Far East.
The Department offers comment as follows:
With regard to Chiang Kai-shek’s first point, it is believed that the attitude and position of this Government with regard to the question of treaty observance and with regard to the principles which this Government believes should govern relations between and among nations have been made clear in many public statements by high officials of this Government, and that this Government’s attitude and position remain unchanged. With reference to the suggested adoption by this Government of economic measures against Japan, it is believed that the whole question of our future commercial relations with Japan must, naturally, depend upon developments. Both the executive and the legislative branches of the Government have been giving consideration to this subject. Suggestions for action by this Government are examined in the light of the traditional policies of the United States and of the current attitude of the American people, and within the framework of the laws of this country. Chiang Kai-shek also suggests that this Government might call a conference either to bring about a settlement of the Far Eastern situation or as a preliminary to the taking of economic measures against Japan. It is believed that until Japan’s military leadership shall have become convinced of the necessity of modifying its objectives and altering its methods, action by the Government of the United States directed toward bringing about an adjustment of the Sino-Japanese conflict by diplomatic processes would be inopportune: such an adjustment, if achieved, could only be on a basis which would have the effect of [Page 713] assisting Japan toward acquisition of a legal title to some portion of what the Japanese armies have seized (and are by no means sure of holding) by force. It is believed that the calling at this time of a conference as a preliminary to the taking of economic measures against Japan would have little or no chance of serving a useful purpose, especially in view of the preoccupation of other powers with military operations in Europe and prevailing uncertainties regarding current diplomatic moves and developments.
With regard to Chiang’s second point, China’s need of material assistance, it is understood that this Government desires to be constructively helpful where it is appropriate and possible for it to act within the framework of the established policies and laws of the United States.
With regard to Chiang’s third point, the European situation in relation to the Far East, it is to be noted that Chiang’s letter was written before the outbreak of war in Europe. After the war began, the Chinese Government appeared for some time to be apprehensive lest the foreign relations of Great Britain and France, and possibly developments between the Soviet Union and Japan, might assume an orientation unfavorable to China. On September 5, the American Ambassador to China called on Chiang Kai-shek4 and communicated to him, under instruction from the Department, a statement that we had no indication of any material developments which would seem to make warrantable the apprehensions of which Chiang had given an intimation. This Government has constantly exchanged with the British and the French Governments information in regard to the Far Eastern situation; our attitude and position in regard to features of that situation have on numerous occasions been made known to those Governments; and it is believed that our views are clearly understood by them. During recent weeks various developments in China have given the Chinese Government renewed confidence in the capacity of China to resist; developments in relations of other countries have tended to allay the Chinese Government’s apprehensions referred to above; and Chiang Kai-shek has repeatedly affirmed that China has no intention of making peace on the basis of Japanese terms as currently (and more or less vaguely) outlined by Japanese spokesmen or agents.