893.24/1236: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Rangoon (Brady)
57. A telegram has been sent to General Magruder by the Secretary of War to the effect that the Secretary of War approves the attitude adopted by General Magruder in regard to the sequestration of Lend-Lease materials by the British without General Chiang Kai-shek’s assent; that without General Chiang Kai-shek’s consent the Secretary of War does not support any such sequestration; that, however, in view of Burma’s importance in China’s defense and of the need for making decisions on the ground, the Secretary of War suggests that General Chiang should send at once to Rangoon a representative having authority to make with the British arrangements as to what Lend-Lease materials if any can be turned over to the British to assist them in the defense of Burma, the Lend-Lease materials not thus turned over to be sent forward at once to China over the Burma Road. If Colonel Twitty61 is still at Rangoon the Secretary of War desires that [Page 770] he advise the British authorities that this Government is not willing to re-consign to the British Lend-Lease materials which are destined for China without first obtaining General Chiang’s consent. If Colonel Twitty has left Rangoon, you are requested yourself to convey this information to the appropriate British authorities.
- Lt. Col. Joseph J. Twitty, U. S. A.↩