740.0011 Pacific War/1882: Telegram
The Military Air Attaché in the United Kingdom (Royce) to the War Department 99
1522. … The Chief of the Imperial General Staff has just received a personal message from General Wavell1 dated December 28th from Rangoon. It should be studied with reference to our cable I. B. No. 11, 12/31/41,2 and follows in substance:
On December 23rd Wavell conferred with Chiang Kai Shek throughout the day with Burma defense the chief subject.
Wavell sought China’s consent to use Lease Lend materials, including aircraft repair tools and A. A. equipment, for defense in Burma and to return one or two squadrons of the American Volunteer Group to Rangoon. Chiang Kai Shek agreed in principle and referred these requests to a committee for study (Comment: Personnel of committee [Page 769] not indicated). No clearly defined orders were issued about Lend Lease or American airmen.
A cable was drafted to President Roosevelt after a discussion on the setting up of an inter-allied council at Chungking. This telegram included a proposal for the conduct of the Far Eastern war. Chiang Kai Shek’s plan called for a defeat of Japan in 1942 as a first step to be followed by operations against the Germans and Italians.
If America would provide the air support needed, Chiang Kai Shek believed strongly that the Chinese could start an offensive by June or at least by October. General Wavell stated that in his opinion the Chinese can make not more than one additional major effort if America will furnish air support and equipment; further, that Chinese morale may be seriously impaired if their hopes for American aid are not realized.
Chinese assistance can be given most effectively by attacking Japanese lines of communication in China; hence, work should be initiated as soon as possible by Mission 204.
The message closed with the statement that Chiang Kai Shek is unwilling to dispatch additional American squadrons to Burma and even wishes one already there returned to China.