740.0011 European War 1939/18712
Generalissimo Chiang to President Roosevelt 1
Mr. President: The Chinese Government and people wish to express their whole-hearted support of your proposed conference of American, [Page 269] British, Chinese and other representatives.2 We venture to offer the opinion that a Supreme Allied War Council should be established forthwith in Washington for the speedy formulation of comprehensive war plans.3 This will constitute a concrete step on the part of the nations of the democratic front to coordinate and concert their efforts against the aggressor nations of the Axis, and will be a most effective factor in bringing about the early destruction of our common enemy.
For this purpose I have designated Mr. T. V. Soong, newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, as the Chief Delegate of China to such Conference or Supreme War Council as you contemplate to set up in the immediate future, and request you to be good enough to notify him to participate in your deliberations on all questions relevant to the conduct of the war.
- Translation of telegram received by the Secretary of State in a letter dated December 24 from the Chinese Ambassador; original transmitted to President Roosevelt at 5: 40 p.m. on December 26.↩
- For Roosevelt’s proposal for preliminary military conferences at Moscow, Chungking, and Singapore, see Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. iv, pp. 751–753.↩
- Roosevelt’s message of December 14 to Chiang had contained the sentence: “I venture to hope that these preliminary conferences especially that in Chungking may lead to the establishment of a permanent organization to plan and direct our joint efforts.” For a report on the Chungking Conference, which met on December 23–24, see post, p. 271.↩