793.94/16780: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 11—3:20 p.m.]
339. In a conversation Saturday afternoon the Generalissimo stated that Chinese political commentators are remarking that with the various warnings by the democracies enjoining Japan against aggression toward Thailand, Singapore, Netherlands East Indies, et cetera and no such injunction against an attack on Yunnan and the Burma Road it would almost seem that the democracies had pointed out to Japan what she might make as her military objective.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, who was interpreting, then enlarged upon the point and said he had telegrams prepared to the Ambassadors at Washington and London to raise the subject at their next conference with American and British Governments. He commented that there is an Anglo-Russian pact,61 and apparently various agreements and undertakings amongst all the democracies except China.
The British Ambassador, who was present, voiced his cordial agreement with the point made by the Generalissimo and stated that he would immediately report the matter to London.
I refrained from making any comment except that when reference was made to Chinese defense I did not [fail?] to refer to American practical aid to China.
It seems to me that an official injunction of warning addressed to Japan in regard to Yunnan and the Burma Road would be neither practicable nor logical at this time. Japan has been so far restrained from military action against Yunnan by physical difficulties. An official pronouncement in the form of a warning, limited in scope to Yunnan, could have little if any effect upon Japanese plans on the course of events unless, of course, it were forcefully and unmistakably [Page 701] indicated that such an attack would be the signal for offensive action on our part. I do not consider the time or the circumstances appropriate to our assuming such a position.
Sent to Department, repeated to Peiping.
- Signed at Moscow, July 12, 1941, League of Nations Treaty Series, vol. cciv, p. 277.↩