811.003 Wallace, Henry A./42a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Gauss)
483. With reference to press reports of a visit of the Vice President to China, the Vice President desires that you orally inform the Foreign [Page 221] Minister13 and, if you deem it advisable, President Chiang14 and Dr. Kung,15 as follows:
I have for long had a strong desire to visit China and within recent months President Roosevelt and I have discussed the matter along tentative lines. My plans have not yet gone beyond the “hopeful” stage. In response to press inquiries, I authorized a statement that in the late spring or early summer I hoped to visit Chungking and that, if I went, the trip would be official. No further statement regarding the matter has been authorized by me and press comment and speculation is obviously baseless.
If I am fortunate enough to carry out my desires, I shall wish to visit informally with Chinese officials in Chungking; to obtain a firsthand view of Chinese rural life in line with my life-long interest in agriculture; and to see something of our U. S. Army personnel which is in China cooperating with the Chinese in bringing about the defeat of Japan.
Formal communication with the Chinese Government will be made if and when my plans take definite shape.