CHINA
Dominions Office cabling text of personal message Chiang Kai-shek
[1] has sent to the Prime Minister and President Roosevelt. In
considering this message the fact has to be borne in mind that
China's not unnatural desire is that the United States and the
British Empire should become embroiled with Japan. Equally Chiang
Kai-shek's remarkable personality and qualities and the fact that
never previously despite all reversals China has suffered has he
taken so gloomy a view of the position.

Weighing these two aspects my own impression is that Chiang
Kaishek's message is as genuine as it is impressive.

In my view it should be taken most seriously and should be made
the basis of an attempt to clarify the position in the Far East in
its widest aspects through the medium of a personal communication
from Churchill to Roosevelt.

Have not had opportunity of discussing the above with Page [2] to-
night and it represents my personal view, subject to consideration
with him in the morning.

BRUCE