THE WHITE HOUSE
                    WASHINGTON
 
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT:
     Re: ABC conference in Chungking.
 
     A very puzzling and unsatisafactory cable has just
come in from Magruder, which will doubtless be sent to
you.
     On the joint defense of Burma there are three
important issues.
1. The use of land lease material.  There is no mention 
of any final decision on this in Magruder's cable.
2.  The use of the American Volunteer Air Force in Burma.
Magruder said there was no decision by the Generalissimo
but an apparent disclination to give any further assist-
ance here.
3.  Chinese defense of Burma.  Magruder said that the 
Chinese offered two army corps, but this was declined by
Wavell.  On the other hand, our consul at Kunming reports
the passage through there of 100,000 crack Chinese troops
moving southward.
     Probably Brett's and Wavell's reports will shed
a clearer light on the outcome of the conference. You
may wish, however, to avail yourself of the present
opportunity to suggest to the Prime Minister the desir-
ability of the British in Burma availing themselves to
the full of Chinese offers of cooperation.  I have an 
idea that Chiang Kai-shek would have no objectoin to
the use of land-lease material and the volunteer air
group in Burma if they were used in conjunction with
Chinese ground operations.
 
                    Lauchlin Currie