Office of the Historian

811.003 Wallace, Henry A./41

Vice President Wallace to the Secretary of State

Washington, March 24, 1944.
[Received March 25.]

Dear Secretary Hull: You will recall our telephone conversation of some two weeks ago in regard to the President’s proposal that I visit China in the late spring or early summer. I appreciate the opportunity you gave me to have a talk with Joseph Ballantine on the subject. He was quite helpful. I have also had a chance informal conversation with John Carter Vincent.9

It occurs to me that, if I make the trip, I should find it most advantageous to have someone with me familiar with China and the Chinese—someone with recent experience in China who knows the present Chinese scene and official personalities; who “knows his way about” and can give me valuable guidance.

I appreciate that you have qualified officers now stationed in China but, if you can possibly spare an officer from the Department to accompany me, I should very much appreciate your kindness and I am sure that I should benefit from having him with me on the trip as well as during my stay in China.

Sincerely yours,

H. A. Wallace

P. S. I still remember with gratitude Larry Duggan’s fine services on the occasion of my South American trip.10

  1. Chief of the Division of Chinese Affairs.↩
  2. In 1943 the Vice President, accompanied by Laurence Duggan, at that time Adviser on Political Relations, made official visits to the Governments of Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru.↩