893.24/10–1548
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Chinese Affairs (Sprouse)
Dr. Tan telephoned this afternoon to inform me that the Chinese Embassy had just received a report from Dr. Wang Shih-chieh, Chinese Foreign Minister, at Paris, saying that he had had a conversation with Secretary Marshall after the latter’s return to Paris. Dr. Wang stated that the Secretary had told him that the greater part of the arms and ammunition of the Chinese military program could reach China in early December. Dr. Tan commented that this seemed to be too optimistic since the Department of the Army had indicated to the Chinese here that only a token shipment could be sent out during November.
Dr. Tan asked whether Mr. Butterworth had yet ascertained from Mr. Lovett whether the Secretary had gone into this matter with Mr. Lovett during the Secretary’s recent trip to Washington. I told Dr. Tan that Mr. Butterworth had sent a brief memorandum this morning to Mr. Lovett making inquiry in this regard but that I did not know if he had yet received a reply. I said that I would inquire and let him know as soon as possible.