740.0011 Pacific War/3930
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Grew) to the Under Secretary of State (Stettinius)
Mr. Stettinius: With particular reference to your memorandum of June 2, 1944, regarding the current deterioration in Sino-Soviet relations, and with general reference to recent telegrams received from the Embassy at Chungking and from elsewhere in regard to the current military situation in China, there are attached two draft telegrams55 addressed respectively to the Embassies at Chungking and at Moscow. The first telegram instructs the Ambassador in his discretion to communicate to President Chiang Kai-shek certain specific proposals which, it is believed, may result in (a) an amelioration of the military situation in China through the use of personnel and matériel now available and (b) an improvement in Sino-Russian relations. The telegram to Moscow gives to Ambassador Harriman background information in regard to the military situation in China and the proposed approach by Ambassador Gauss to the Chungking Government, for use in his discretion in connection with those general discussions which Mr. Harriman is to undertake with the Moscow authorities.
Both telegrams have been cleared with the concerned sections of the War Department, and have the full approval of the responsible officers who feel that the proposed diplomatic approaches will be helpful. It [Page 798] was ascertained from officers of the War Department, in the strictest confidence, that General Shang Chen, who is now in Washington, has, within the past two weeks, presented letters to the President and to General Marshall56 from President Chiang Kai-shek. In the letter to General Marshall, President Chiang (1) described the present acute military situation, (2) alleged that the Japanese had been able to withdraw 14 divisions from Manchuria as the result of a secret understanding between the Soviets and the Japanese, and (3) requested military supplies and assistance. It was further learned that an oral reply, meeting the Chinese request in part and urging the Chinese in turn to take certain measures, has been made to General Shang Chen by General McNarney.57 The substance of the War Department’s response has been communicated to General Stilwell’s Headquarters and will be available to our Ambassador at Chungking.
It is proposed further that as soon as Navy approval is obtained for delivery of naval units to China as is currently proposed,58 Ambassador Gauss be authorized to convey that information to President Chiang, if possible at the same time that the Ambassador presents the substance matter of the present draft telegram. It is considered that such procedure would possibly facilitate Ambassador Gauss’ approach, by giving an earnest of our intentions to give more substantial aid to China.
It will be noted that Ambassador Gauss is being instructed in any event to bring the Department’s telegram and other pertinent information to the attention of the Vice President for such use as the latter may deem appropriate and helpful.
- See telegram No. 829, June 15, 3 p.m., to the Ambassador in China, p. 102, and telegram No. 1492, June 15, 5 p.m., to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union, p. 105.↩
- Gen. George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff, U. S. Army.↩
- Maj. Gen. Joseph T. McNarney, Deputy Chief of Staff, U. S. Army.↩
- See telegram No. 773, June 5, 9 p.m., to the Ambassador in China, p. 94.↩