ZHOU ENLAI | Typed letter signed ("Chow En-Lai") thanking US Major W.A. Dexheimer for a gift presented on behalf of the US Army, and wishing him a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Property from the Descendants of Colonel Wilbur A. Dexheimer

ZHOU ENLAI 

Typed letter signed ("Chow En-Lai") thanking US Major W.A. Dexheimer for a gift presented on behalf of the US Army, and wishing him a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

One page (10 1/2 x 7 3/4 in.; 268 x 197 mm), 26 December 1944; folds. 

A personal note from the future first premier of the People's Republic of China to American Wilbur Dexheimer of the Dixie Mission.

A skilled diplomat, Zhou was heavily involved in discussions between the Chinese Communist Party and the American Dixie mission. In this letter to Major Dexheimer, Zhou writes: "allow me to express my deepest appreciation and thanks to you and the members of your Section. It has been a great pleasure and honor for me to work with you and members of the U.S. Army and hope that next year will fulfill our common desire for making it a victorious one." The Dixie mission presented an important opportunity to gain American support of the Communist's that would continue after the war. Indeed, in their final report, the mission formally suggested greater cooperation between the CCP and the American military. 

An Allied victory came in September of 1945. Zhu and Mao attended the subsequent American endorsed peace conference in Chongquing, but found that the Americans favored the Nationalist government and the peace talks ultimately dissolved by November 1945.