Letter from Chiang Kai-shek to Adolf Hitler

Nanking, 16 September 1936

To His Excellency the Führer and Chancellor of the German Reich Herr Adolf Hitler, Berlin

Your Excellency! Herr Reichskanzler!

I give you my most sincere thanks for sending General von Reichenau to me as your special emissary. The choice of this personality was a special honour for me, --not simply because of his high station. Through his advisory capacity and by means of his entire manner, General von Reichenau has worked equally successfully for Germany and China. I may assure you, Herr Reichskanzler, that I am reluctant to see General von Reichenau leave China.

The thoughts of Your Excellency, which were transmitted to me, about cooperation between China and Germany are a special joy to me. I have explained in detail to General von Reichenau the basic guidelines of my policies in a personal discussion, and I would prefer that you receive an oral report about it from him. The basis of our cooperation is the exchange contract. It is my goal, to extend it far beyond the existing framework. I am about to construct the necessary economic organisation for it. It would be aimed at increasing the production of agricultural goods at utilising Chinese natural resources. Increasingly, China will be in a position to deliver such quantities of raw materials, that she will play a decisive role for Germany. In order, however, to put things in motion as quickly as possible, I have ordered, already this year, the delivery of raw materials valued at 30 million Chinese Yuan to Germany.

I am all the more determined to deliver extensive quantities of Chinese raw materials, as this is the only way to effect the necessary build-up of my army.

After the successful unification of China through the incorporation of the last two southwest provinces, I intend to conduct the inner reconstruction of the empire with great vigour. I assure Your Excellency that I intend to do this in closest cooperation with Germany in the political, economic and intellectual spheres.

For that reason, I am thankful, for the suggestions that General von Reichenau has made to me. They relate to the reconstruction of the entire state leadership, above all to the reorganisation of the work and command relationships of the army. I have accepted these suggestions and ordered their implementation in the area of the military.

For this it will be necessary that a high General Staff officer acquainted with political and military matters join my personal staff, with whom I can implement this reform.

It is my greatest wish, that German-Chinese cooperation always be supported by accomplishment, and that the personal affinity between both countries always be as strong as it is today.

You, Herr Reichskanzler, have already given expression to this thought in that you had the honorary sword of the German Reich given to me. I take it as a symbol of soldierly loyalty and as a true sign of the friendly relationship of our countries.

With my best wishes for your personal health and the well being of your country I am

Your Excellency's loyal

Marshall Chiang Kai-shek (Seal of Chiang Kai-shek)