NAVAL MESSAGE                 NAVY DEPARTMENT
FROM     ALUSNA CHUNGKING               FOR ACTION        OPNAV                                     
DATE            3 JAN 42                             
TOR CODEROOM      0350/3RD                                                                           
DECODED BY      MCKOWN                                                
PARAPHRASED   GLTUCKER
INDICATE BY ASTERISK ADDRESSEES FOR WHICH HAlL DELIVERY
IS SATISFACTORY
                    021830 CR 0820
UNLESS OTHERWISE DESIGNATED THIS DISPATCH WILL BE TRANSHITTED WITH
DEFERRED PRECEDENCE
 
TEXT
 
FROM CHIANG KAISHEK
 
FOR    PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.
 
GENERALISSMOS REPLY FOLLOWS:
YOUR SUGCESTION THAT I SHOULD EXERCISE THE SUPREME COMMAND OVER
ALL FORCES OF THE UNITED POWERS WHICH ARE NOW OR MAY IN THE FUTURE
BE OPERATING IN THE CHINESE THEATER, INCLUDING INITIALLY SUCH
PORTIONS OF INDO CHINA AND THAILAND AS MAY BECOME ACCESSIBLE TO
TROOPS OF THE
 
UNITED POWERS, IS ONE WHICH I HAVE CONSIDERED WITH A FULL SENSE OF
ALL THE GRAVE RESPONSIBILITIES IT ENTAILS TOWARD THE OTHER COUNTRIES
AND PEOPLES CONCERNED AS WELL AS TOWARD CHINA.    IF IT WERE SIMPLY A
QUESTION OF MY OWN CAPACITIES AND MILITARY QUALIFICATIONS, I COULD
 
NOT ACCEPT THIS SUPREME COMMAND WITH ITS ATTENDANT DUTIES AND RES-
PONSlBILITIES.    HOWEVER I DO NOT HESITATE TO ACCEPT IT AT YOUR SUG- 
GESTION IN AGREEMENT WITH THE BRITISH AND DUTCH GOVERNMENTS. THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A SUPREME COMMAND WILL UNIFY THE STRATEGY AND
PROMOTE THE
 
FULL COOPERATION OF THE UNITFD POWERS IN THE CHINESE THEATER. THE
EFFECTIVE COORDINATION OF THESE FORCES IN THE COMMON NEED THAT
MUST BE PLACED BEFORE EVERY THING ELSE.  YOUR OWN INITIATIVE AND
EFFORTS HAVE BROUGHT THIS UNITY OF PURPOSE AND MADE THEM WITHIN
REACH OF
 
ACHIEVEMENT AND I SHALL SPARE MYSELF NOTHING TO SECOND YOUR EFFORT
AND SERVE THE COMMON GOOD OF ALL THE NATIONS WHICH ARE NOW
LINKING
 
               SECRET                        CONTI  PAGE 2.
                                                        SEE ART 76(4)
                                                      NAV REGS
MAKE ORIGINAL ONLY, DELIVER TO COMMUNICATION WATCH OFFICER IN
PERSON