893.24/1427
Memorandum by the Second Secretary of Embassy in China (Davies) to General Stilwell 73
General Yang Chieh has been President of the Military Academy at Nanking and Chinese Ambassador to the Soviet Union during the early part of the Sino-Japanese conflict. He is now in retirement. I had been told that several months ago that he had written an article, which had received some publicity, advocating the concentration of United Nations’ strength on the defeat of Germany. Apparently the President had been informed of this article, for T. V. Soong was said to have reported to the Generalissimo that the President had in conversation with him commented favorably on General Yang’s point of view. Thereupon the Generalissimo, according to the report which I heard, ordered General Yang to desist from writing in that vein, or at least to write under an assumed name.
General Yang was the first Chinese with whom I talked in Chungking who did not anticipate an imminent Japanese attack on Siberia in the near future. He believed that the Japanese had more to gain by delaying military action against Siberia. A Japanese attack against India he considered to be more likely. The profits to be gained would be more immediate and more remunerative.
The experiences of General Yang in connection with the obtention of Russian aid for China in the early phases of the Sino-Japanese hostilities were illuminating and significant in connection with our own program of lend-lease aid to China. He said that the day after his arrival in Moscow he stated China’s needs to the Soviet military authorities. In a matter of two or three days the main outlines of what form this aid was to take had been decided upon. Prices were not mentioned in the initial negotiations and when they were, they were lower than those asked by American and British commercial organizations. The supplies promptly began to move and, as we know, arrived during the early phase of the war at Haiphong, Hong Kong and Lanchow by the thousands of tons.
But then came the Russian disillusionment. They discovered that the aircraft were misused and cracked-up by inexperienced personnel and that the other material seemed scarcely ever to find its way into combat against the Japanese. It disappeared and no accounting was given. The Russians reproached him for misrepresentation and he found himself in a most uncomfortable position.
We Americans must be on guard against a repetition of the Russian experience, General Yang warned. We must take steps to insure [Page 116] that the material which we supply China is used for the purpose for which it is given. If this is not done, lend-lease supplies will be hoarded by the Chinese Government (for civil warfare, maintaining the dominance of the regime now in power and for increasing China’s military strength against the day when it can be used as a counter at the peace table?) “We Chinese have thick skins,” General Yang stated, “and you have been too polite with us.”
Mr. Chang Pai-chun, leader of the Third Party, was present during the interview and signified agreement with General Yang.
- Apparently this copy was brought to the Department by Mr. Davies.↩