Chinese businessman and politician (1891-1971) who briefly served as the premier of the Republic of China; brother-in-law to Chinese President Sun Yat-sen. Notable pair of TLSs, both one page, 8.5 x 11, President of the Executive Yuan letterhead, dated April 20 and 25, 1946. Both letters are addressed to Ralph Olmstead, the operations director for the UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) China Office, and General Claire Lee Chennault. The earlier letter, in full: "The Chinese Government hereby gives permission for UNRRA, China Office to operate air transport service for distribution of relief supplies under the following conditions: (1) Duration: Until the end of UNRRA, China Office operation in March, 1947. (2) Free use of civilian airfields. Use of military airfields should be negotiated with Commission of Aeronautical Affairs direct." The second letter, in full: "As you know, I have already agreed on behalf of the Government to UNRRA's setting up a temporary outfit to fly relief supplies to interior points. I wish, however, that you will instruct the new outfit not to take Chinese or American flight, ground or office personnel from the existing airlines in China. I am sure you will agree with me that establishing a new outfit at the expense of existing airlines will not solve our problem." The letters are stapled together and preceded by a carbon copy typed letter from Olmstead to Chennault, dated April 27, 1946, which reads, in part: "I am enclosing a copy of a memorandum from His Excellency Dr. T. V. Soong granting permission to UNRRA, the China Office, to operate Air Transport Service for the distribution of relief supplies…We entirely agree with Dr. Soong's wish that the new organization not take Chinese or American flight, ground or office personnel from the existing airlines in China. This proviso will, I trust, be incorporated into any contract which may be signed between yourself and CNRRA or UNRRA." In overall fine condition. What Olmstead refers to as the "Air Transport Service" was later deemed the Civil Air Transport, which was created by General Chennault and Whiting Willauer in 1946 as the CNRRA (Chinese National Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) Air Transport. Under an agreement with the UNRRA, the Civil Air Transport was authorized to take possession and then distribute relief supplies. The service was later owned by the CIA, which supported United States covert operations throughout East and Southeast Asia, including the famed Air America.
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