Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
General Marshall to Lieutenant General Alvan C. Gillem, Jr. 13
1006. General Gillem please pass urgently the following letter from me to Dr. T. V. Soong who is visiting in Shanghai.
“Dear Dr. Soong: This afternoon, I was informed by Washington that my Government has considered every possible means of extending [Page 779] the Chinese Air Force program by utilizing United States funds, extensions of credit, or transfer of obligations. I happen to know that the Secretary of War, the Acting Secretary of State, and the Assistant Director of Budget have given this matter their personal attention.
Unfortunately, there is no legal manner in which the program can be continued unless the Chinese Government makes available the required cash amounting to $8,076,866. A substantial part of this must be made available before 30 June.
The crux of the problem is that there is no legal authority and no appropriated funds to expend for this purpose. The War Department feels it has no recourse but to issue a directive suspending all CAF training on 30 June unless a substantial cash payment is made and a directive to this effect has already been prepared. This is in no way intended to work undue hardship on the Chinese Government. It is simply the fact that any other action is illegal. Because of the extreme shortage of time, I will be glad to transmit any urgent instructions for the Chinese Embassy in Washington over United States channels.”
- Commanding General, U. S. Army Forces in China. This telegram was forwarded to Colonel Carter in Washington.↩