740.0011 PW/8–345: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Hurley) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 3—3:40 p.m.]
1279. For the Secretary [and] for the President. On July 31, I attended a meeting with the Generalissimo, Prime Minister Soong, General Wedemeyer and various members of the American and Chinese military staffs at the Generalissimo’s residence. At the meeting, many military subjects were discussed. It was suggested that General Stilwell might be assigned to command the American Forces which would land in China. General Wedemeyer later reported fully the conference discussions to General Marshall.79a
On the evening of August 2, the Generalissimo invited me to come to his residence. He discussed with me matters pertaining to American generals who will command American Forces landing in China. After our discussions he handed me an aide-mémoire which he asked me to send to the President and which is in full as follows:
“Aide-mémoire (handed to Ambassador Hurley by the Generalissimo on August 2, 1945).
In view of the imminent landing of American forces on the China coast the choice of the commanders who are to lead these forces in their operations in China is a question of extreme importance. American commanders should be chosen with a view of their ability to cooperate with the Supreme Commander of the China theater. The commanders should also be selected with a view of their capacity to cooperate with the Chinese Army and its generals. The commanders should not be men who have heretofore shown their inability to cooperate in military operations with the Chinese and in other relations between China and America. In other words, American commanders selected for China should not include any general who has shown himself definitely antagonistic to the Chinese Government or to Chinese national aspirations. China is eager to continue her policy of maintaining and strengthening the pleasant and fruitful collaboration which now happily exists between herself and the United States. China is justly apprehensive of a repetition of the painful experience in the recent past when the war effort and her relations with America [Page 145] were jeopardized and retarded by incompatible personalities. It is earnestly requested therefore that the American Government take this situation into full consideration and appoint commanders who enjoy the unqualified confidence of the Chinese Government and people. In short, China would like American military commanders who have not been involved as partisans in the various internal political controversies of China. As acceptable American generals we include General Wedemeyer, General Simpson, General Truscott and other American generals who have proven their worth in the European theater.”
The Generalissimo stated that he wished the United States to continue General Wedemeyer in command of all American Forces in China. He stated that he would welcome as many American generals as the American staff desired to send to China. He said he would oppose the assignment of General Stilwell to any command in China.
- Chief of Staff, United States Army.↩