793.94/16967: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Gauss)
Washington, November
3, 1941—7 p.m.
252. Reference your telegram 429, October 29, 7 p.m.
- 1.
- There have come to this Government, and have been communicated to this Department in various ways, during the last 3 days, three [Page 753] different versions, through as many channels, none of them through you or the Chinese Ambassador here,33 and all differing in one or more important particulars, of a message from Chiang Kai-shek.
- 2.
- Please get from the Generalissimo or the Minister for Foreign Affairs as exact a statement as possible of the Generalissimo’s estimate of the military and political situation, especially as regards Japan’s possible contemplation of new operations against Yunnan and the Burma Road, and of what it is that the Chinese Government is suggesting that this Government do in the premises. Inquire also what the Chinese Government is suggesting to the British Government.
- 3.
- In your conversation with the Generalissimo or the Minister for Foreign Affairs, you may make it a point to say, in the form of mere observations, that this country is confronted at present with the problem of giving material aid not only to China but to Great Britain, to Russia, to the Netherlands, and to some 20 other countries that are amassing arms for purposes of essential preparedness; and, in addition, we are forced to equip ourselves toward preventing or resisting possible attacks upon us in two oceans, with a possibility even of having to fight in self-defense on both fronts simultaneously. You should say that we are having to consider, in our strategy of production and distribution of materials and equipping of our own armed forces, the whole world, and that it is essential that, keeping constantly in mind all theatres of actual and possible operations, timing, coordination, et cetera, we give our program and efforts proper balance.
- 4.
- You may also say, on the Department’s authority, that roundabout methods of sending messages and use of several different channels in each of which the messages are reported in different words, causes delay and confusion in the giving here of appropriate attention to the important subject matter of the original and authentic version of the message.
- 5.
- You may also tell the above, on the Department’s authority, to the Naval Attaché and to General Magruder, adding that in our opinion recommendations involving questions of high political policy, no matter by what officers made, should either be channeled originally through the Ambassador or be filed in paraphrased duplicate with the Ambassador for immediate report by him with his comments to this Department. Quite apart from any question of Departmental jurisdictions, this view rests on considerations of efficiency involving factors of time, of cooperation, and of coordination in procedures for best serving the interests of the United States in formulation of policy, in relations with and negotiations with other Governments, and in operations of implementation.
- 6.
- After reporting on paragraphs 1 and 2 above, please give in a succeeding telegram, your comments and estimate.
- 7.
- For your information, messages referred to in paragraph 1 above came (a) from the Generalissimo, via T. V. Soong, to the President;34 (b) from the Naval Attaché to the Navy Department; (c) from General Magruder to the War Department, Magruder’s report stating that you had been informed.
Hull