Preface

The present volume of Foreign Relations of the United States is one of a special series of Foreign Relations volumes covering the relations of the United States with China for the years 1942 to 1949, inclusive.

The Foreign Relations volumes are primarily concerned with documentation of diplomatic activities within the responsibility of the Department of State. Some documents from other agencies have been printed where they have been deemed necessary to supplement the Department’s records and thus give a better understanding of the problems treated.

Military records dealing with China during 1943 are discussed in narrative histories published or in preparation by the Departments of the Army and Air Force. Most important for this period are United States Army in World War II: The China–Burma–India Theater: Stilwell’s Mission to China, and Stilwell’s Command Problems, by Charles F. Romanus and Riley Sunderland, published in 1953 and 1956, respectively, and The Army Air Forces in World War II, edited by W. F. Craven and J. L. Cate, Volume IV, published in 1950. These histories provide relevant background information for documents referring to military activities.

The preparation of the present Foreign Relations series on China has been under the general supervision of the Chief of the Historical Division, G. Bernard Noble. The volumes were compiled in the Foreign Relations Branch of the Historical Division under the direction of the Chief of the Branch (Editor of Foreign Relations), E. R. Perkins, and the Assistant Chief of the Branch, Gustave A. Nuermberger, by a research staff consisting of John G. Reid, Francis C. Prescott, Velma H. Cassidy, Herbert A. Fine, and Ralph R. Goodwin. The 1943 China volume was compiled by Mr. Reid, Mr. Prescott, and Mr. Goodwin.

The Division of Publishing Services is responsible with respect to the Foreign Relations volumes for the proofreading and editing of copy, the preparation of indexes, and the distribution of printed copies. Under the general direction of the Chief of the Division, Bruce Buttles, the editorial functions mentioned above are performed by the Foreign Relations Editing Branch in charge of Elizabeth A. Vary.