Mr. Lauchlin Currie to President Roosevelt 66
Re: Joint Defense of Burma.
In answer to my inquiry re. plans for joint defense of Burma, General Magruder replied on December 14 that joint plans were being prepared and that a Chinese regiment was en route by foot. He stated that due to the difficulties of terrain and the other operations of the Japanese it was not believed that there would be any ground movements or attacks on Burma.
On December 16 he stated that “The Generalissimo has been very vehement in his criticism of the British, owing to the fact that no joint plan has been brought out for the defense of Burma. He has condemned the apparent haphazard methods that are being used, also the fact that all reinforcements have been piecemeal. He pointed out that while the British are hesitating it is possible that Burma might be lost.”
A Military Intelligence Report from London stated that the Japanese had arrived at the Burmese border on Dec. 15th, on the route which I earlier indicated as the most likely one.
A cable received from Magruder today states that the British are now seriously concerned over Burma and have asked the Chinese for more troops. Chiang Kai-shek stated he would supply one corps.
There appears to be no way either here or there of securing the full measure of ABC coordination which our interests in that area so clearly demand. I have discussed with our Army people informally the possibility of our taking over a larger measure of responsibility for air operations in China, Burma and Singapore, under the command of a topflight air officer. I feel so strongly that our vital interests are being jeopardized by British ineptitude and weakness in that area.
- Photostatic copy obtained from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, N. Y.↩