893.64A/1–2645: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Hurley) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 27—10 a.m.]
115. ReDeptel 18, January 4, 2 p.m.5a Foreign Affairs Minister6 under date January 15 requests Embassy to recommend that United States Bureau of Reclamation be designated to design and, when Chinese Government has available funds, to construct Yangtze Gorge project outlined in Savage’s7 preliminary report and that Bureau be given every appropriate priority regarding manpower and supplies to facilitate work on preparing final report, specifications and contract drawings for this project. Soong expresses hope that, if and when President Roosevelt sanctions undertaking, instructions will be given to Bureau to negotiate and sign contract for technical assistance with Dr. S. C. Wang, chief representative of technical group in United States of National Resources Commission.
Soong quotes nine stipulations made by Bureau for undertaking project and states they appear to NRC8 and to him “both reasonable and workable, and are acceptable in their entirety.” It is indicated in [stipulation?] 6 that costs are to be borne by Chinese Government and we assume American Government so wishes.
Embassy informing Soong that his request is being transmitted to Department with recommendation that it be given favorable consideration. Despatch follows.9
- Not printed.↩
- T. V. Soong.↩
- John L. Savage, Chief Designing Engineer of the Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior, who was sent to China at the request of the Chinese Government for consultation on a number of major hydro-electric power projects in that country. He arrived in Chungking, May 25, 1944, completing his preliminary report after 6 months in China. (893.64A/2–145)↩
- National Resources Commission.↩
- No. 104, January 29, not printed.↩