Description:

Joseph Stilwill, "Vinegar Joe", and Chennault signed Chinese flag décor

 

Chinese flag, printed on silk and stitched to a canvas cloth backing. Inscribed in ink, and signed twice by Joseph W. Stilwell, once in English as "Joseph W. Stilwell," and once with his name in Chinese. Dated " 9/2/44." Additionally signed by C.L. Chennault, and E.E. Glenn below the star on the flag. Cloth size 8" x 10", with Chinese writing below the flag (which will be accompanied by a translation). Inscribed to Ben Blue, the actor. Light soiling with expected folds. Near fine.

 

A fascinating historical piece signed by a triangle of feuding parties. Roosevelt had ordered General Marshal to send a high ranking general to China with the goal to keep China in the war. At this point in time, China had been poisoned by history, ill will and conflicting strategic goals leaving the British and Nationalist Chinese allies at loggerheads. Roosevelt requested a buffer between the two, and Stilwell seemed to be the perfect solution. He had served three tours of duty in China, was the army’s foremost China expert – not only fluent in Mandarin, he could curse a blue streak in a number of Chinese dialects. The assignment had all the elements of a career-destroying snakepit. Whereas Stilwell loved China and its people (he and his wife regarded it as a second home), he had no illusions or respect for its leaders. The posting carried with it three jobs: chief of staff to Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek; commanding officer of American forces in China; and Lend Lease administrator. It needed an individual possessing the tact, patience, and diplomatic skills of a Talleyrand. Instead, on March 6, 1942, Chung Kai-shek greeted an Anglophobic, newly-minted American lieutenant general with the nickname “Vinegar Joe.”

 

Enter C.L. Chennault into this mix. Chennault commanded the 1st American Volunteer Group (nicknamed Flying Tigers) and who headed both the volunteer group and the uniformed U.S. Army Air Forces units that replaced it in 1942. He feuded constantly with General Joseph Stilwell, the U.S. Army commander in China, and helped China's leader  Chiang Kai-shek to convince President Roosevelt to remove Stilwell in 1944. 

 

This fantastic unique piece is signed by two clashing important American figures in this war. Ultimately Stilwill was replaced by Wedemeyer, who unlike Stilwill believed in supporting Chiang Kai-shek, and repeatedly warned the State Department, his superiors, and both Roosevelt and Truman that failure to support Chiang Kai-shek would ultimately lead to a Communist takeover of China. He reiterated these recommendations in his  famous 1947 report to President Truman but the report was suppressed, and the result was a Communist takeover in 1949.

 

The cloth includes the Chinese writing below the flag which based on our translator's research is shown below, with the added interpretation shown in Italics:

 

"We are the US Air Force who came to help the Chinese fight the war (against Japan)

Military and civilians, please act as one body to offer rescue and care. (Please report to the nearest Allied Forces. The Government will reward you.)"



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