740.0011 Pacific War/2414
Memorandum by the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck)
Mr. Gauss presents in this telegram80 a very gloomy picture regarding the military situation on the Burma-China-India front. His statement that “it is going to be exceedingly difficult if not impossible to maintain commercial air service between India and China” is in line with opinions already expressed in several well informed quarters. As against that, however, there have been assurances from some of the best informed quarters that the maintenance of that service is definitely possible; also, there has been the assurance of the President that it will be done.
The description of General Wavell as a “tired old man” confirms in exact words estimates which have been reported by some other recent close-up observers.
The statement that there is bitterness “against the Churchill Government for having sabotaged the Cripps Mission” tends to confirm reports from other sources that there was sabotaging.
In combination, these statements of fact and of opinion tend to confirm gradually piling up indications that the saving of the situation in eastern Asia and the Indian Ocean east of the Persian Gulf is going to depend upon the efficiency and efficacy of American efforts [Page 41] plus whatever can be made of Chiang Kai-shek’s political genius, Chiang’s will to fight, Chiang’s command over three or four million soldiers, and the terrain of China as a base for air operations against Japan.