Office of the Historian

893.24/7–3047

The Director of the Office of Financial and Development Policy (Ness) to the Chairman of the Chinese Supply Commission (Wang)

Washington, July 30, 1947.

My Dear Dr. Wang: On August 19 [18], 1945 your Government was requested15 to submit an inventory of lend-lease supplies furnished by the Foreign Economic Administration to your Government on lend-lease terms and still under the control of your Government on V–J Day.

This inventory was to cover all articles transferred to your Government by the Foreign Economic Administration that had not been lost, [Page 1174] destroyed or consumed. I would appreciate receiving this inventory from you at your earliest convenience.

I wish also to call your attention to another lend-lease matter involving 1438 Dodge T–234 Trucks which were turned over to the Chinese Government during the period of September 2, 1945 through October 3, 1945. The Chinese War Production Board through its agent, the War Transportation Board, accepted delivery of these trucks. Upon receipt of the trucks the Chinese War Production Board was to have furnished the Foreign Economic Administration authorities with an “interim receipt” acknowledging the receipt of these trucks. This “interim receipt” was also to contain a stipulation by the Chinese Government that payment for these vehicles would be made to the United States Government on terms to be determined between the two Governments. A suggested form of the foregoing mentioned “interim receipt” was transmitted on November 12, 1945 to Mr. R. C. Chen16 by Mr. W. T. Stanton.17 Mr. Stanton requested the Chinese War Production Board to execute four copies of the suggested receipt, if accceptable to the Board, and the four executed copies were to be returned to Mr. Stanton. These receipts have never been received by this Government.

Would you kindly look into the matter and advise me as to the status of these “interim receipts”. If these receipts have not been executed by the Chinese authorities I would appreciate your efforts in having it done and transmitted to me at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely yours,

Norman T. Ness
  1. Letter from the Administrator of the Foreign Economic Administration to the Chinese Ambassador, Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. vii, p. 1130.↩
  2. Deputy Director, Department of Priorities, Chinese War Production Board.↩
  3. Special Representative of the Foreign Economic Administration in China.↩