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Primary sourceLetter19 September 1944

President Roosevelt Message to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek

Franklin Delano Roosevelt · 19 September 1944

A 1944 wartime message from President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Chiang Kai-shek urging continued Chinese resistance against Japan.

This wartime message, written by FDR to Chiang Kai-shek, shows his direct role in coordinating Allied strategy in Asia.

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Source: Wikisource

About this source

What it is

This is a message sent by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, leader of China, on 19 September 1944. In it, Roosevelt urges Chiang to reinforce Chinese forces fighting in Burma and warns of the consequences of withdrawal during the war against Japan.

Why it matters

The message comes from the final year of World War II, showing the tense wartime relationship between the United States and China's leadership. It reveals Roosevelt's direct involvement in coordinating Allied military strategy across the Pacific and Asian theaters, and his effort to keep Chiang Kai-shek's forces engaged against Japan.

Look closer

  • What specific military situation is Roosevelt worried about in this message?
  • What does the tone of the message suggest about the relationship between Roosevelt and Chiang Kai-shek at this point in the war?
  • Why might direct messages between leaders matter more than official treaties during wartime?

This letter is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Franklin D. Roosevelt on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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