898.24/548: Telegram
The Chargé in China ( Peck ) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 30—11:30 a.m.]
227. Reference Embassy’s telegram 216, March 28, 10 a.m.49 The Embassy learns from an informed Chinese source that Sun Fo’s50 mission to Moscow is to plead with Stalin51 with whom he is on good terms for the granting of additional Russian support to China in the form of arms and munitions, and especially military aircraft the maintenance of the average number of which the Chinese authorities hope to increase from a present total of 200 to 500 available planes. The same source [apparent omission] Sun is [to?] proceed in about 2 weeks to Paris and London for discussions along similar lines with French and British officials.
Repeated to Peiping.