First Lady of the Republic of China, the wife of former President Chiang Kai-shek. She was a politician and played a prominent role in the politics of the Republic of China (1897-2003). Typed letter signed “Mayling Soong Chiang”. Nanking. 4to. 1 p. On “Headquarters of the Generalissimo” letterhead.
$ 9,112 / 8.500 €
(88082)
Madame Chiang Kai-shek wrote from Nanjing, then the Chinese capital, less than two months before the Nanjing Massacre, in which invading Japanese forces slaughtered Chinese civilians. The massacre was part of the Second Sino-Japanese War – the “undeclared war” mentioned in the letter – in which Japanese Imperial forces invaded China. The Second Sino-Japanese War is considered to have opened the Pacific Theatre of World War Two. President and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek had mobilized his best troops to defend Shanghai earlier that year and lost.
Reluctant to wipe out the rest of his army in a hopeless defense of Nanjing, he withdrew most of his troops before the invasion: “Dear Mr. Yui, I think you are already acquainted with Mr. Kerran, of London, so it is not necessary for me to introduce him to you. Mr. Kerran is very interested in China’s case in this undeclared war, and is anxious to get some close up ideas of the endurance of our soldiers in their defense against Japanese invasion. Therefore will you kindly show Mr. Kerran what courtesy you can in assisting him to pay a visit to the front so that he can see with his own eyes what is happening? Whatever you can do for Mr. Kerran will be appreciated. Yours sincerely, Mayling Soong Chiang (Madame Chiang Kai-shek)”. The terrific content letter is in good very condition with toning and a mounting strip at the top..