893.00/11–2345
The Acting Secretary of State to Admiral William D. Leahy, Chief of Staff to the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy
My Dear Admiral Leahy: I am sorry that I did not get a reply to you before your departure this afternoon, to your inquiry regarding a message from Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek transmitted in Chungking’s 2022 of November 23, 1945. I informed your aide that no reply has been made to this message through State Department facilities and we are not aware that any has been made through the White House.
In the light of the changed situation since the message was sent, and of General Marshall’s impending departure, it would seem that a reply might appropriately state merely that General Marshall is expected to proceed to China in the very near future and that he has full authority to discuss the questions raised in the message.
Sincerely yours,