740.0011 Pacific War/3461: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:40 a.m.]
1807. Reference your 1302, September 17, 10 p.m. and 1315, September 18, midnight. I have asked for appointment to pay respects to Generalissimo upon my return to China but due to sessions of People’s Political Council it may be a few days before I see him. When I do so I shall follow suggestion in paragraph 2 of your 1302. Meanwhile I have spoken to Acting Foreign Minister and shall do likewise with others as I meet them, supporting Atcheson’s conversations which were excellently handled. Acting Foreign Minister said instructions had been issued by Generalissimo to deal with matter.
Stilwell tells me that Chinese have restored the one-third of appropriations for airfields and roads which they had cut, but he is not satisfied with the general picture and thinks there can be little improvement until present Minister of War is ousted. No such ouster is at all likely.
Supporting Atcheson’s suggestions in paragraph 3 of his 1674, September 11, I am of opinion that proposed congratulatory telegram at time of Generalissimo’s inauguration as President would be suitable vehicle for carrying carefully prepared expression of confidence in vigorous prosecution by China of the war against Japan by all means at China’s disposal in fullest cooperation with American and other Allied forces as the United Nations intensify their military efforts in the Pacific area.
Will report further after my conversation with Generalissimo but I do not anticipate anything of particular interest is likely to develop at that conversation.61