811.20 Defense (M)/14565d: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in China ( Atcheson )
1280. The Department has been informed by Lauchlin Currie, Executive Officer of the Office of Economic Warfare, of the possibility [Page 660] that favorable consideration might be given by General Stilwell25 to using Suifu as an airline terminal as well as Kunming. The present strong interest on the part of the United States in the supply of tung oil, feathers and hog bristles should be pointed out in this connection. It is feared that these commodities cannot be moved to Kunming in substantial volume by truck but information available here indicates that Suifu would be more accessible.
Please discuss the foregoing with Fowler. It is hoped that, if possible, General Stilwell may be consulted directly on this matter.
- Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell, Commanding General, United States Army Forces in China, Burma, and India.↩