893.50 Recovery/8–1348
The Secretary of State to the Secretary of Commerce (Sawyer)
Dear Sawyer: Lovett wrote to you on July 28, 194899 in regard to the allocations of aviation gasoline to the Chinese Government covered by contracts concluded at Shanghai on July 12. As stated in his letter, the State Department requested action to ensure that licenses were granted on the basis of the urgent military needs.
The reported existing stocks of aviation gasoline in China must meet both Chinese civilian and military requirements. A telegram from the American Embassy at Nanking, dated August 13, refers to existing stocks of aviation gasoline in China but also states that the United States Army Advisory Group confirms that the highest Chinese authorities assert that there is now a critical shortage of aviation gasoline for the Chinese Air Force. It would be unfortunate if we turned down a request reported to be of military urgency and later found the emergency actually proved to be of grave consequence.
[Page 283]I would appreciate the approval of the allocations of aviation gasoline to the suppliers under these contracts at the earliest possible moment.
Faithfully yours,
- Not printed.↩