500.CC/3–2245: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 22—10:26 a.m.]
477. We did not receive until this morning your 447, March 15, 8 p.m. I immediately sought an interview with the Generalissimo through the political Vice Foreign Minister74 who stated in strict confidence that Chiang was away from Chungking and would not return until March 26. The Vice Minister suggested that I deliver the message to Soong and, as the Chinese delegation is now being composed, I followed this suggestion and at noon handed the message to Soong for communication to the Generalissimo.
Soong read the message thoughtfully but made no comment other than to say that he would forward it to Chiang. I made some remarks in support of the last sentence of the third paragraph of the message in regard to the favorable impression which would be created in the United States by the suggested action but these did not elicit comment from the Foreign Minister.
- K. C. Wu.↩