Office of the Historian

740.0011 P.W./7–1445: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Hurley) to the Secretary of State

Chungking, July 14, 1945—8 a.m.
[Received July 14—7:37 a.m.]

1162. General Wedemeyer informs me that insofar as he has been able to determine there are no regular Chinese troops operating in Thailand (Department’s telegram 992, June 26, 3 p.m. and Embassy’s 1096, July 3, 5 p.m.). The 93rd Chinese Division is located near the border but the Generalissimo gave explicit orders in May to the Chinese commander that there must be no incidents or unauthorized forays and no military operations other than those required to defend China from the Japanese.

Wedemeyer states further that through General de Wiart69 the British had protested alleged Chinese operations in the area and had asked Wedemeyer to prevail upon the Generalissimo to withdraw the 93rd Division from the area even though this Division was located on Chinese soil. The Generalissimo assured General Wedemeyer that the Chinese would not act against the Thais or the British but that he would definitely not withdraw his forces and felt authorized at any time to conduct operations in Thailand against the Japanese.

At a subsequent discussion of the matter the Generalissimo reiterated to Wedemeyer that Thailand is in the China theater and that he will not agree with the British or Americans that he cannot operate his troops in that area at any time, although he would see to it that such operations were conducted only against the Japanese. Wedemeyer also states that in all of his discussions with the Generalissimo the latter has pointed out that French Indochina and Thailand are in the China theater and that he is the recognized Allied commander of all forces employed in those areas. Finally the Generalissimo declares that China has no territorial ambitions in either Thailand or French Indochina, (I may add that on numerous occasions he has made the same statement to me.)

Hurley
  1. Lieut. Gen. Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart, Representative of British Prime Minister Churchill and of Adm. Lord Louis Mountbatten with Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.↩