JANUARY 22, 1942
 
PERSONAL FROM GENERAL MARSHALL TO GENERAL WAVELL.
 
     THE FOLLOWING IS PASSED ON TO YOU AS OF POSSIBLE INTEREST: THE
PRESIDENT HAS RECEIVED INFORMATION WHICH HE CONSIDERS RELIABLE
THAT THERE HAS RECENTLY OCCURRED DEFINITE IMPROVMENT IN CHINESE
MORALE AT CHUNGKING.  IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT THE GENERALISSIMO HAS
COME TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE DEFENSE OF THE MALAY BARRIER IS VITAL TO
THE SECURITY AND WELFARE OF CHINA ITSELF.  THIS SUGGESTS THE
POSSIBILITY THAT THE GENERALISSIMO MIGHT WELCOME AN OPPORTUNITY OF
RENDERING SUCH COOPERATIVE ASSISTANCE AS LIES WITHIN HIS POWER
TOWARD SECURING YOUR LEFT FLANK.  I ASSURE YOU THAT THE PRESIDENT
HAS NO INTENTION EITHER OF SUGGESTING ANY SPECIFIC ACTION IN YOUR
CONDUCT OF OPERATIONS OR OF OCCASIONING TO YOU THE SLIGHTEST
EMBARRASSMENT.  HIS SOLE PURPOSE IS TO PASS ON TO YOU THIS
INFORMATION WHICH MIGHT BE USEFUL AND WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE NOT
COME TO YOUR ATTENTION.
     VERY PERSONALLY FROM ME TO YOU: WE ARE FAIRLY FAMILIAR WITH
THE DELICATE SITUATION IN BURMA RESULTING FROM RESENTMENT OF
INHABITANTS TO CHINESE DUE TO INFILTRATION AND SUCCESS OF SMALL
CHINESE SHOP--KEEPERS AND AS TO AGITATIONS BEING PROMOTED BY ENEMY
AMONG BURMESE AGAINST BRITISH RULE.  TO BE COMPLETELY FRANK THERE
REACHES US HERE THROUGH MANY CHANNESL THE RESENTMENT OF CHINESE
TO BRITISH OFFICIALDOM AND THEY APPEAL TO US ACCORDINGLY.  OUR
SECRET INFORMATION INDICATES A TREMENDOUS PROPAGANDA DRIVE BY
JAPANESE THROUGHOUT CHINA, CAPITALIZING ON THE LOSS OF PRESTIGE BY
THE WHITE RACE THROUGH THE FALL OF HONGKONG AND MANILA TO BRING
ABOUT A COMPLETE COLLAPSE OF CHINESE RESISTANCE, RELEASE JAPANESE
TROOPS IN THAT AREA AND OPEN WIDE ALL THE RESOURCES OF CHINA TO
JAPAN.  IN VIEW OF THESE CONSIDERATIONS WE ARE INTENSELY INTERESTED
IN ANY MOVES WHICH BUILD UP IN THE GENERALISSIMO'S ORGANIZATION
FAITH AND CONFIDENCE BRITISH-AMERICAN JOINT PURPOSES IN THE FAR EAST.
                              MARSHALL