Abstract:In 1942, Chiang Kai-shek’s attitude towards the former Republican presidential candidate Wendell Willkie’s visit to China went through a process of rejection, cautious invitation, and positive welcome, which was almost synchronous with the changes in the US government’s decision-making towards China after Lauchlin Currie’s second visit to China. Due to the importance attached to the US military aid to China and the independence of India, the National Government’s welcome of Wilkie’s visit to China was a continuation of the unfinished issue of Currie’s visit to China. However, after multiple consultations at the executive meeting of the National Defense Supreme Committee with K’ung Hsiang-hsi and Wang Shih-chieh as the core, the proposed “Issues and Key Points to be Considered in Wilkie’s Talks” did not address the above-mentioned issues. During the talks, Wilkie took the initiative to raise the issue of military aid and India, which caught Chiang Kai-shek off guard. Wilkie’s visit to China did not achieve substantial results, which was due to the friction between the “presidential envoy” and the US embassy in China, as well as the inadequate preparation of the high-level officials of the National Government.
张燚明. 1942年国民政府对罗斯福总统特使威尔基访华的因应[J]. 华中师范大学学报(人文社会科学版), 2024, 63(5): 154-165.
Zhang Yiming. The National Government’s Response to President Roosevelt’s Envoy Wendell Willkie’s Visit to China in 1942. journal1, 2024, 63(5): 154-165.