Roosevelt Papers: Telegram

President Roosevelt to Generalissimo Chiang 1

secret

From the President to General Stilwell for delivery to Chiang Kai-Shek.

Your message to me dated January 9, 1943,2 saying you are seriously considering abandoning Chinese participation in the proposed Burma operation.

In my message to you of January 23 I told you that I would definitely take up with the highest Allied authorities at the earliest possible date the matter of opening the Burma Road without avoidable delay. Confidentially and for your personal information only, I expect to confer shortly with the Prime Minister in person. I urge you to delay final decision in the matter until you hear from me further. I hope to send you word in about a week.

Roosevelt
  1. Transmitted via military channels.
  2. For text of the message of January 9, 1943, from Chiang to Roosevelt, see Romanus and Sunderland, pp. 259–260.
  3. Roosevelt’s message of January 2 to Chiang is given in footnote 4 to Roosevelt’s telegram 254, January 7, to Churchill, supra.