740.0011 Pacific War/2101: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:11 p.m.]
211. Reference my 144, February 23 [22], 1 p.m.29 In an informal conversation last evening with the Generalissimo30 I inquired whether he could tell me anything of his estimate of the situation as he found it in India. He replied in effect that he is greatly worried over that situation, that the British Government is blind to the realities, and that he feels that the outcome may be serious for Britain in India and at the same time for China. He added later that a radical change of British policy toward India might possibly solve the situation but repeated that the British Government is blind to the seriousness of the situation. He commented that it was significant that the last remark made by former Ambassador Clark Kerr as Chiang left Delhi was: “Do you think we are about to collapse” (in India). Without saying so, Chiang inferred to me that he fears a collapse. Chiang says he intends to write to the President on the India situation. He asked that what he had told me be considered strictly confidential and not be made known to others. I so request. He said that he had not realized the true situation in India before his visit there.
Earlier in the evening he made two remarks with a considerable show of irritation: (1) The British do not inform their allies when they withdraw or surrender, and (2) the British will not receive his Chinese staff officers. I do not fully understand the last remark unless it relates to Burma where Chinese forces have been sent to cooperate with the British. Madame Chiang in translating made the remark that British strategy is always “super secret.”
I have never previously seen the Generalissimo as depressed as I found him last evening.
During conversation with Madame Chiang who freely discussed her impressions of the visit to India she made the remark that the Indians would not be satisfied with dominion status, that unlike other dominions the Indians have no feeling of racial affinity or common destiny with respect to the English and that although realizing that perhaps independence cannot come immediately they seek and should be given real political power and responsibility. She stated her opinion [Page 615] that the Indians are prepared to discharge such responsibility to the benefit of the United Nation[s] Front.
There is open anger owing [in?] criticism of Britain in Chinese official and other circles here.