893.24/1056: Telegram
The President of the Chinese Executive Yuan (Chiang Kai-shek) to Mr. Lauchlin Currie, Administrative Assistant to President Roosevelt 46
Despite your departure you seem still to be remaining with us. Your friendliness and good will as expressed during your stay here will forever be remembered. Following is a personal message to the President which I hope you will be kind enough to transmit:
“President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Since publication of Soviet-Japanese Pact, our people and army, ever pledged to resist till victory is won, have been as bitterly infuriated as disappointed. They unanimously consider serious changes in Far Eastern situation impending. It is reported that the Soviet Far Eastern army will soon be recalled to Europe. This, together with Allies’ reverses in Balkans inevitably affected our troops’ morale too much, so that our present war efforts along; the Fukien-Chekiang coast suffer setbacks. Moreover, in attacking said coast provinces Japanese have thrown in crack divisions they have so far refrained from using unless absolutely necessary. At this crisis our government and people hope more than ever for speedy positive decisive manifestation of American aid to China policy so as to reinforce confidence of people and army and strengthen resistance to aggression. I appreciate profoundly your declaring positive aid to China constitutes an integral part of the lend-lease bill. I earnestly hope that you, Mr. President, will soon announce total amount of war implements assigned to be lent us with reference to comprehensive list of articles we have submitted. This generous and timely assistance will more than anything else encourage and gratify our people and troops and prove an extremely wholesome influence on entire Far Eastern situation. I hope this urgently requested announcement may be made in the very near future. Your response to my appeal will be equally appreciated.”
- Copy transmitted to the Secretary of State on April 30.↩