893.51/7372: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China ( Gauss )
73. In the New York Herald Tribune of February 6 there is an article under Washington date line in regard to the passage by the Senate of the bill authorizing the extension of financial aid to China. In this article there is the statement that Mr. Long79 expressed to members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the view that some influential people in China were attempting to influence Chiang Kai-shek to make a separate peace; that Chiang Kai-shek was standing firm; but that some of those around him were wavering.
The Department doubts whether you should take any initiative in the matter. In case the report mentioned above should be forwarded to Chungking and in case the matter is brought to your attention you are authorized to say that these misleading statements under reference are regretted; that the hearing of the Foreign Relations Committee was in executive session; that Mr. Long, after making a general statement in hearty support and explanation of the bill, was asked some [Page 458] specific questions; that Mr. Long, in reply to one of these questions, made some general statements along the lines of General Chiang’s remarks to you as reported in the first section of your telegram no. 548, December 30, 6 p.m.;80 that the attitude of the appropriate Committees of the Congress and of the Congress itself, as demonstrated in their votes and in the unusual speed with which action was taken, was unanimously and whole-heartedly in favor of extending financial aid to China; and that the attitude of the American public is one of very enthusiastic support of the Congressional action.
- Breckinridge Long, Assistant Secretary of State.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. v, p. 768.↩