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2227413

Chiang Ching-kuo

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The Premier reacts to injuries to his friends’ son:

“We were saddened by the distressing news of the auto accident in which your son was injured.”

Chiang Ching-kuo, 1910–1988.  Son of Chiang Kai-shek; 3rd President of the Republic of China, 1978–1988; 9th Premier of the Republic of China, 1972–1978; Minister of National Defense, 1965–1969.  Typed letter signed, Chiang Ching-kuo, one page, 8½” x 11”, on stationery of the Office of the Premier, Republic of China, no place [Taipei, Taiwan], July 25, 1975.

In this chatty letter, Chiang reacts to injuries to the son of U.S. Army Maj. Harold Lindsey “Lin” Arison, Jr. (1919–1998), and his wife, Mary Jane (1923–2004).  Writing to “Janie and Lin,” he says, in full:

Thank you so much for the many greetings and notes which you have been so kind as to send us during recent months.  Faina and I enjoyed them immensely and read them with feelings of friendship and pleasant memories of our association during your days in Taiwan.  We attach great value to the close and enduring personal ties we have long had with your and your country.

We were saddened by the distressing news of the auto accident in which your son was injured.  Please convey to him our best regards and wishes for his speedy recovery.  We sincerely hope this will not have any bad effects on his promising career in the Army.

We were happy to learn that many of our friends in the Washington area can get together once in a while.  When you next see them, please be kind enough to convey our greetings.

All is well with my family.  We think of you often and hope you will find it possible to visit us in the near future.

Faina joins me in our best wishes to you.

Chiang was the Nationalist Chinese Premier when he wrote this letter shortly after his father, Chiang Kai-shek, died on April 5, 1975.  Chiang Kai-shek groomed Chiang Ching-kuo for some 30 years to take over leadership of Nationalist China.  Chiang Ching-kuo later became President in 1978, a position that he held until his own death in 1988.

The Arisons were close friends of the Chiangs’.  Lin Arison was a U.S. Army bandmaster who served on loan from the Army as Chiang Kai-shek’s Military Music Advisor.  He served on Taiwan from 1954 until he retired from the Army in 1963.  He was also an officer in the United States Foreign Service and, among other things, served as chief of the Northeast Asia and Pacific branches of the Voice of America.  He retired from the Foreign Service in 1972.

Chiang twice refers to his wife, Faina (1916–2004).  A native of Belarus, she met and married Chiang in 1935 during the 12 years that he lived in the former Soviet Union.  She took the Chinese name Chiang Fang-liang and thence was known as Faina Chiang Fang-liang.

This letter comes directly from the Arison family and has not been offered on the autograph market before.  We are separately offering other letters by Chiang Ching-kuo and an archive of letters by Madame Chiang Kai-shek to the Arisons.  Click here and scroll down to see those listings.

Chiang has boldly signed this letter in blue ballpoint pen.  The letter has two horizontal mailing folds that do not affect the signature.  There is a flattened diagonal bend in the blank area at the upper left, and the letter shows scattered handling marks.  Overall, the letter is in fine condition.

Unframed.

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$650.00

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