Stilwell and Chiang Kai-shek.

This article focuses on the book "The Stilwell Papers," by Joseph W. Stilwell and edited by Theodore H. White. The theme of this book is Stilwell's struggle to get Chiang Kai-Shek, head of Nationalist government, Taiwan to put the war first and politics second. For over two years Stilwell steered his course through the central vortex of China's war-time politics, up against the problem that American diplomats still face-how to pursue broad and essentially humane American ends in co-operation with Chinese leadership with puts personal power before every other consideration. A lesser man than Stilwell might have taken the easier way, magnified Chinese virtues, excused vices, and compromised in order to get at half results.