893.24/1353
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton) to the Secretary of State 17
It is suggested that you ask the Counselor of the Chinese Embassy (Mr. Liu Chieh) (the Ambassador is absent and will be away until June 2) to call and that you hand to the Counselor the ribbon copy, with one carbon, of the attached draft of a proposed lend-lease agreement between the United States and China.18
In so doing it is suggested that you might care to inform the Counselor that with the exception of a few minor phraseological changes the draft follows the language of the lend-lease agreement concluded between the United States and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with only one substantive change, namely, the inclusion of one additional statement which appears as the second “Whereas” clause. This new “Whereas” clause takes cognizance of and makes express reference to the Declaration by United Nations and the declaration known as the Atlantic Charter. This Government proposes, because of its obvious political significance, to include it in all further lend-lease agreements. You might hand the Counselor a copy of the text of the agreement with the British Government (copy attached).
[Page 571]You might inform the Counselor also that this Government has desired to include the Chinese Government among the first Governments which we have approached in the matter.
You might inform the Counselor that officers of the Department will be available to confer with officers of the Embassy at any time in regard to any technical aspects of the draft and you might suggest that I will hold myself in readiness to arrange such a conference upon receipt of word from the Chinese Embassy that such a conference is desired.