740.0011 Pacific War/2513

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State

The British Ambassador called at my request. I said that, while I would not undertake to go into the problems of India and other countries, including Great Britain, during the past twenty-four hours I had received disquieting news from both China and India in regard to the possibility of a slowing up of Chinese resistance arising out of a spirit of discouragement on the part of Chiang Kai-shek. Furthermore, my reports referred to possible explosive conditions making their appearance in India during coming weeks and months. I added that I had nothing to offer in any way, but merely desired to make inquiry of the Ambassador regarding the above after bringing this information to his attention. The Ambassador said he knew very little about the situation. He then asked if, in my opinion, an impartial commission should be sent to India to investigate and report on conditions. I replied that I was not sufficiently informed about all of the complex problems and conditions in the Indian situation to enable me to discuss the matter fully or definitely with him. The Ambassador knew nothing in particular about the Chinese situation but said that he was interested in getting the information which had come to me regarding both China and India.

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