032 Willkie, Wendell/110
The Chinese Minister of Finance (Kung) to President Roosevelt 26
Dear Mr. President: Taking advantage of Mr. Wendell Willkie’s return to Washington, I am sending you this message to say how much our Government and people appreciate your sending him to our [Page 161] country. Never have I seen such spontaneous and heart-felt welcome accorded to a foreign visitor by our people of all walks of life as that shown to your personal representative. Despite his short stay, Mr. Willkie has done much by his infectious enthusiasm to invigorate China’s war efforts. I am sure that having seen the facts in China with his own eyes he will be able to give you a correct picture of China’s war efforts as well as of her problems and needs.
Knowing that you and your family are fond of Chinese tea, I take this opportunity to send you and Mrs. Roosevelt some fresh tea from this year’s crop, one jar of red tea and another of green tea, which please accept with the warmest regards and best wishes from Madame Kung and myself.
Sincerely yours,
- Copy of original transmitted by President Roosevelt on October 15 to the Under Secretary of State (Welles) “to personally prepare a reply for my signature”.↩