Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek to the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs (Soong)26
“Please transmit the following message to the President:
“During this time when the Chinese theatre is in such urgent need of combat and transport planes, I am deeply grateful to you for the [Page 62] despatch to us of the Tenth Air Group, originally stationed in India, and also of other planes formerly stationed in Australia, to assist in war operations. This timely addition of new fighting power will not only strengthen the morale of the army and improve the war situation, but will encourage the Chinese army to redouble its efforts.
“Air transportation is now a matter of great urgency. Based on the experience of the last few months, two-motor transportation planes, with their limited carrying capacity and performance, have been found entirely inadequate for the India–China route. I understand that, commencing June of this year, the United States will be in a position to produce fifteen DC–4 four-motor transport planes. Will you be so good as to allocate these planes and other planes of this type for use along the India–China air route? Because the war situation is presently more acute in our theatre of war than elsewhere, I am hopeful that you will give favorable consideration to my request.
- Copy of telegram transmitted in covering letter of June 2 from Dr. Soong to President Roosevelt. Photostatic copy obtained from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, N. Y.↩