The Coordinator of Information (Donovan) to
President Roosevelt
4
No. 142
[Washington,] January 9,
1942—6 p.m.
Dr. Soong has just come in. He brought with him the attached telegram from
General Chiang Kai-shek dated January 7, 1942. He asked that I get it to you
personally. Also, he asked me to say to you that if you felt there was any
impropriety in his passing this along direct to you, and not through the
State Department, please to let him know and he will go to them. But he
hoped that he might have certain things like this established through a more
direct line of communication.
He also asked that after you have read the telegram, if you wish to give him
any reply direct to his General, he will appreciate it.
[Annex]
Telegram From Chungking Dated January 7th, 19425
“I deeply appreciate your telegram of December 31st5a in which you
so clearly reaffirmed the consistent democratic spirit of your policy. I
consider that the actual incident involving the seizure of Chinese
lend-lease cargoes in Burma by the British military authorities is of
minor importance compared to the effect on the unity of our democratic
cause of the spirit which made such incidents possible. I trust that you
fully understand that my attitude in this matter has not been influenced
by material considerations but by political considerations which I
regard as being of fundamental importance.
“The spread of the Battle of the Pacific to Australasian, British and
Dutch territories emphasizes certain factors, the importance of which we
Chinese appreciate acutely. The spread of war in colonial areas differs
from war elsewhere, nor can the war in the Pacific today be compared
with the European war of 1914–1918 which hardly [Page 3] affected the Pacific area. In Europe the military
factor is paramount and the conquered populations can be relied on to
regard the anti-Axis forces as liberators. In South East Asia however,
besides military factors, nationalism and social conditions are factors
of equal importance. Such factors may not become dangerous in a short
war, but with every month that passes in a long war their importance
increases and they may become decisive factors.
“Having been ruled for a long time by Western nations without economic,
social or political equality, the native populations may come to regard
our descriptions of the ruthlessness of the Japanese invaders as mere
propaganda. They may feel that there is no reason why they should
undergo sacrifices to defend their present rulers against other future
rulers. If they are to have the necessary morale to endure such
sacrifices as prolonged bombings and other horrors of war as we have
experienced in China, it is necessary that they should feel that they
have some national interest of their own at stake. Our experience has
proved that without the support of the people, armies could not maintain
prolonged resistance.
“I earnestly hope that you could persuade the British and Dutch
authorities to emulate the spirit of declarations which have been made
by yourself,6
the High Commissioner Sayre7 and by General MacArthur,8 and
to make changes in their attitude clearly indicating future political
changes in the spirit of the Atlantic Charter.9
Such would contribute greately towards our joint war effort. Otherwise,
if the enemy should succeed in stirring up the populations for their own
purposes, the situation would become increasingly more dangerous as the
war progresses.
“May I say that it is the profound experience of what enabled us here in
China to hold out all these years, which prompts me to speak to you in
this way. I assure you that my only concern is for our joint interests
and for our common victory. Relying on your great statesmanship and your
unrivaled prestige as the leader of the democracies throughout the
world, I wish to leave it to you to decide whether you should convey the
substance of my views to the British Prime Minister. Let me say that I
have the highest regard for the leadership of Mr. Churchill and I am
convinced that he will fully understand the spirit in which I have
broached this subject.
