740.0011 Pacific War/3813: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12:41 p.m.]
583. Reference my 582 of April 2, 2 p.m. Hearn informed me last evening he considers MP [my?] comment on Army action was critical and unfair. He told me he has informed Madame Chiang of new arrangement and she made no objection, that announcement is being made of transfer of General Ferris19 here to “strengthen” these HQ, and that HQ in China actually remain as they have been before. I trust that this will quiet rumors before harm is done; it remains yet to be seen how far the rumors have spread. I pointed out to Hearn that this incident illustrates necessity for careful appreciation of possible repercussions from what may appear to Army officers to be purely administrative actions for no matter what security measures are taken information gets out promptly and private Chinese banking interests have prompt although not always accurate intelligence. Hearn feels the incident may be helpful in our relations with Chinese. Possibly so if the rumors are quieted in time. The “restricted” general order announced that HQ US Army forces CBI is established at New Delhi and later provides that forward echelon HQ is established at Chungking.
- Brig. Gen. Benjamin G. Ferris, Deputy Chief of Staff to General Stilwell.↩