Chapter 21 The Burma Highway reopens

The reopening of the Burma Road has an extremely complicated background, and the entire negotiation process is very difficult. In fact, before the outbreak of the European War, in April 1939, Chiang Kai-shek proposed a cooperation plan between China, Britain, and France, the content of which was as follows: (1) China, Britain, and France should invite Soviet Russia to participate in the military and economic cooperation in the Far East at an appropriate time, and notify the United States to invite them to take parallel actions. (2) Do not negotiate peace with the enemy alone. (3) China uses military force, manpower and material resources, while other countries use naval and air forces to fight. (4) Economic cooperation among countries to jointly impose sanctions on Japan.Instruct ambassadors stationed in relevant countries to actively promote its realization.In April, Chiang Kai-shek personally summoned Tim Bolie, the Manchester Guardian's China correspondent, and asked him to inform the US government of the desirability of cooperation between China, Britain and France.Tian Bolie said: Jiang believes that the European War will come soon, and the territories of Britain and France in the Far East will definitely be attacked by Japan. and Indochina, and even defend Singapore".Chiang's intention was to sign a treaty of mutual assistance between China, Britain and France.As we all know, Chiang Kai-shek has already crossed the river like a muddy cow at this time, and it is difficult to protect himself, and he is talking extravagantly to save others, which is difficult to be convincing. On May 2, Hu Shih received an oral reply from the British government, to the effect that "the British government's attitude towards Jiang's mention of cooperating with other countries and taking parallel actions has been stated in various documents issued by the White House and the State Council, and the British government believes that The Chinese embassy should have taken note of the contents of these documents," and gave the ambassador a taunt.In the same month, when Chiang Kai-shek met with the new British ambassador, Carl, he proposed that if the European war broke out, he could provide Britain with 200,000 troops and "will be happy to hand over these people to be used by you at will." But before the meeting, Carl had already said, " The current situation in Europe is such that it may be difficult for the UK to arrange this matter."Yang Jie, the former chief of staff of Chiang Kai-shek, came to Paris to negotiate on this matter, but there was no result.

Soon, the European War broke out. After Chiang Kai-shek's proposal to unite Britain, the United States, and France was rejected, he turned to Germany in a fit of anger. On October 5, Ding Wenguo, Counselor of the Nationalist Government's Embassy in Germany, was ordered to request "mediation" from the German Foreign Ministry. The Counselor said: "Chiang Kai-shek is not anti-Japanese at all. He was forced to fight Japan against his original intention." The conditions proposed by Chiang Kai-shek are: 1. Recognition of the Puppet Manchukuo. 2. Special rights for economic cooperation in North China. 3. "Sino-Japanese goodwill". 4. The Japanese army retreated only from the Yangtze River Basin, and troops could be stationed in North China.The counselor also said that if these conditions were proposed by the national government to Japan, they would be rejected, and a third country must come forward to "mediate".After the Sino-Japanese War is over, Japan can develop into Southeast Asia and cooperate with Germany in fighting against Britain.He also said that Germany's "mediation" will bring Germany a "superior position" in the Chinese economy.Because "Chiang Kai-shek has always been pro-German" and "prepared to implement an anti-British policy together with Germany and Japan."That means joining the European War.Kong Xiangxi, head of the Executive Yuan of the Nationalist Government, also "guaranteed the supply of raw materials to Germany for 50 years", and even allowed the transfer of tungsten, antimony, and tin ores scheduled to be supplied to the United Kingdom to Germany.However, Chiang Kai-shek, Kong Xiangxi and others put forward the proposal of Germany's "mediation" and further alliance with Germany at this time. The timing was wrong. Due to the signing of the Soviet-German non-aggression pact on August 23, Japan-Germany relations entered a low ebb.The Japanese government has declared that it will not intervene in the European war.Negotiations between China and Germany have yielded no results.

By July 1940, the German army swept across Europe, Konoe formed a cabinet for the second time, and Yosuke Matsuoka became foreign minister.At this time, Chiang Kai-shek strengthened his diplomacy with Germany.He believed that Chen Jie, Ding Wenguo, etc. were not effective enough. In August, Gui Yongqing, the former commander of the German Armor Division, was sent as military attache in Germany. Gui Yongqing was deeply favored by Germany.At this time, Japan and Chiang Kai-shek were secretly seeking peace, and Japan and Wang were also negotiating a treaty. Matsuoka also asked Germany to mediate.According to Gui Yongqing's memoirs, in September, he was summoned twice by Marshal Goering of the German Empire. Goering said that due to China's backwardness in industry and political disunity, there was no hope of victory, and that Japan should accept the terms of peace, and Germany could be the guarantor of the peace treaty. .

Gui Yongqing replied: Unless Japan fully withdraws its troops, China and Japan can conclude a treaty.After Gui Yongqing reported to Chiang Kai-shek the conversation with Goering, Chiang instructed that in future talks with Germany, gentle words should be used.According to the documents of the U.S. Foreign Ministry, in mid-November, German Foreign Minister Ribbentrop summoned Chen Jie, the Chinese ambassador to Germany, and told him that Germany had won the whole of Europe, and that the war would end within this year after Germany unified the whole of Europe.Now is the "last chance" for China to make peace with Japan, otherwise Japan, Germany, and Italy will soon recognize Wang Jingwei's regime.Ribbentrop also said: He hopes that China can negotiate a peace with Japan, and hopes that "China will join the Axis".Germany will guarantee Japan's fulfillment of the "peace clauses". On November 14, Chen Jie called the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chongqing and said: Ribbentrop told him that Germany was willing to be friendly with China when he made an appointment.It is hoped that China will "follow the trend of the times, but strength is the most important thing, and we have to focus on being pro-Japanese." Otherwise, if Japan recognizes the Wang regime, Germany and Italy will follow. This "will also slightly affect Sino-German relations." I hope you will consider the possibility of reconciliation, "so as not to miss this last opportunity." On November 30, the basic treaty between Japan and Wang was signed, and Germany believed that "it is too late to mediate with China." Without excessive demands, it is the best opportunity." Gui Yongqing has been in touch with a spy chief named Jacques, and Jacques has talks with Gui Yongqing in the middle of the night twice a week.Jacques informed Gui Yongqing of the date of Germany's attack on the Soviet Union and said that he was going to help China develop its economy after defeating the Soviet Union, and then China and Germany cooperated against Japan.Such talks were extended to July 1, 1941. After the outbreak of the Soviet-German War, Germany hoped that Japan would attack the Soviet Union and recognized the Wang puppet regime. The Chinese government announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Germany.

In fact, since the establishment of the Triple Alliance in September 1940, the attitudes of Britain and the United States towards Japan have become tougher. On October 2, the US government decided on a policy towards Japan: "Should take clear actions to express that they will not retreat due to Japan's intimidation." One step at a time." On October 12, Roosevelt declared: "The United States aids the invaded, and has no intention of succumbing to coercion and intimidation to follow the path taught by the dictators." On October 17, Chiang Kai-shek summoned the United Kingdom and the United States in China The ambassadors discussed the cooperation among the three countries.He told British Ambassador Carl that Britain and the United States have always regarded China as a colony, which is actually the biggest mistake.China has a large army, which can supplement the lack of British and American armies in the Far East.China is entitled to "cooperate on an equal footing" with the UK and the US.He also said that the possibility of the Japanese army entering Vietnam and attacking Yunnan is small, and China is already prepared.On the other hand, the possibility of going south to Singapore is high, and it is difficult for Britain to defeat it. Therefore, it is only natural for China and Britain to cooperate in resisting Japan.Chiang Kai-shek proposed: "The government of Chen Qingying should consider the following five points: (1) Is it time for the British government to consider China's contribution to Britain in resisting Japanese aggression. (2) If China cannot continue the war of resistance, what will happen to Britain? (3) What is the benefit to Britain if Britain does not aid China? (4) How can China stop the enemy if Britain does not aid China's air force. (5) Will China's cessation of the war of resistance benefit the Japanese army's southward advance." Karl replied: He personally speculates that the United Kingdom has not yet ascertained the attitude of the United States towards Japan.So inconvenient to take action.China's war of resistance was actually fought for Britain.The UK regards China as the first line of defense, and the UK should do its best to help China.However, Karl did not answer whether Britain had any intention of cooperating with China to resist Japan.

In a conversation with US Ambassador Jensen, Chiang Kai-shek said: Now foreign aid cannot be brought in, the activities of the CCP are increasing, and the crisis of the government is getting worse.China is eagerly looking to the United States for aircraft and economic aid.It is hoped that within two or three months, 500 fully equipped aircraft from the United States can be obtained, so as to meet the urgent need.This is actually the only good strategy for the United States to replace the war against Japan.It would be even better if volunteer pilots from the U.S. Air Force could come to China to help.In Sino-U.S.-UK cooperation, “China should follow the leadership of the U.S., of course.”If the United States is willing to cooperate with China, then naturally there is no need to worry about the CCP.If China's War of Resistance fails, not only Japan's domination of East Asia will be worrying, but also the Communist Party's troubles.U.S. Ambassador Jensen replied: The U.S. will definitely do its best to aid China, and should telegraph this matter to Washington. On November 9, Chiang Kai-shek met with the ambassadors of the United Kingdom and the United States to China to submit a cooperation plan for China, Britain and the United States. The plan first listed three principles: 1. Adhere to the open door of the nine-nation pact and safeguard China's sovereignty, territory, administrative The principle of completeness. Second, oppose Japan's so-called construction of a 'new order in East Asia' or a 'new order in Greater East Asia'. Third, affirm China's independence and freedom as the basis for peace in the Far East, that is, the basis for the establishment of the entire order in the Pacific." Specific projects of mutual assistance" four points: (1) After the publication of the cooperation declaration, lend 200 million to 300 million US dollars to China. (2) "The U.S. Navy sells 500 to 1,000 fighter jets to China in the form of credit loans every year", and this year (1940) 200 to 300 fighters will be shipped to China.In addition, the quantity and types of other weapons shall be negotiated separately. (3) "The United Kingdom and the United States sent military, economic, and transportation delegations to China to organize Far East cooperation agencies." The members of the delegation "are hired by the Chinese government as consultants." "All the Chinese Army participated in the war, and all the Chinese Air Force sites can also be used by the coalition forces." However, US President Roosevelt said that the United States does not want to go to war with Japan, and the United States cannot form alliances with other countries, or make military commitments. It is also not easy to facilitate.However, in order to allow China to continue to resist Japan and not follow the pro-German route, the aid from Britain and the United States to China has increased compared with the previous one.

After the signing of the Triple Axis Alliance, Germany has become a hostile country to China, and Japan has become a hostile country to Britain.On the issue of the Burma Road, Britain's attitude was naturally different from before. In September 1940, the British side stated: "The reopening of the Burma Road is what Britain wishes for." Guo Taiqi, the Chinese ambassador to the UK, was ordered to formally propose to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill the reopening of the Burma Road on October 3, and asked for consultations on issues such as improving the traffic conditions on the Burma Road, expanding traffic volume, and building the Burma Railway.Churchill replied: There is no problem with the reopening of the Burma Road.As for other issues, the British side is also willing to negotiate with China to resolve them. On October 8, the British side officially announced that it would not extend the closure period. On October 17, the Burma Road reopened.After the opening of the Burma Road, the British and Burma authorities sent representatives to China to discuss the improvement of transportation.The British side proposed to set up a China-Myanmar Mixed Committee, with an American expert as the chairman, to manage all transportation within China and Myanmar.Chiang Kai-shek immediately agreed.Chiang Kai-shek himself proposed to the United States to send American experts to China to help manage the Burma Road, which was agreed by the United States.The United States asked China to rectify the management organization of the Burma Road.Chiang Kai-shek immediately ordered the establishment of the Yunnan-Burma Road Transportation Project Supervision Committee, and personally attended the training. He also ordered the Transportation Control Bureau of the Military Commission to take over the national road transportation management agencies and concentrate all efforts on overall planning and dispatching.At the same time, pavement renovation works are also intensified.Due to the efforts of many parties, especially the employees who have overcome many difficulties with high patriotic enthusiasm, the traffic volume of the Burma Road has greatly increased.From 4,000 tons in January 1941 to 15,000 tons in November of the same year, the total annual volume was more than 132,000 tons.As for the negotiations on the Burma Railway, the Chinese side has repeatedly urged the British side to proceed as soon as possible.The British side decided to only allocate funds for the construction of the section from Lashio to the Sino-Myanmar border, on the grounds that the project was too large, the construction period was long, and the cost was too high to bear.For the road section in China, the Chinese party must raise funds by itself, or use British and American credits for construction.China transferred business to the United States, and the United States proposed to borrow 15 million US dollars for road construction, and agreed to provide China with old steel rails, locomotives and road construction equipment.China's plan to sell the Burma Railway Gold Bonds in the United States also received the consent of the United States.However, due to the outbreak of the Pacific War, Burma fell, and the Burma Railway could not be started, so it came to an end.