845.00/15423/5
The Under Secretary of State (Welles) to President Roosevelt
Washington, August 11,
1942.
My Dear Mr. President: I have just
received from Dr. T. V. Soong a further message from
Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek which I enclose herewith.
Believe me
Faithfully yours,
[Enclosure]
Message for President Roosevelt From
the Generalissimo, Chungking, August 11,
1942
[August 11, 1942]
I feel certain that you are concerned as I am at the news of
the arrest of the Working Committee of the Indian Congress
including Gandhi and Nehru. In my last telegram I expressed
my dread that such a development would prove to be a great
setback to the Allied cause in the Far East and would
certainly have a disastrous effect on the entire war
situation. I fear also that if matters are allowed to
deteriorate further the influence of the Axis powers would
be considerably strengthened and the avowed object of the
Allies in waging this war would no longer be taken seriously
by the world and the professed principles of the United
Nations would lose much of their spiritual significance. At
all costs the United Nations should demonstrate to the world
by their action the sincerity of their professed principle
of ensuring freedom and justice for men of all races. I [Page 715] earnestly appeal
to you as the inspired author of the Atlantic Charter38a to
take (effective?) measures which undoubtedly have already
occurred to you to solve the pressing problem now facing
India and the world so that normalcy will return and
unimpeded war effort may continue to hasten our common
victory. Your policy will serve as a guide to all of us who
have resisted for so long and so bitterly the brute force of
the aggressors. Trusting you will favor me with an early
reply.
