Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
General Marshall to Colonel Marshall S. Carter
1910. There follows herewith my frank statement regarding the situation in China which I had intended to make personally in Washington. However, changed circumstances and my planned delay enroute dictates that this statement should be released no later than 24 hours after the White House release directing me to return. I propose [Page 683] therefore that the latter release be issued at 4 o’clock Monday afternoon, and my personal statement at 10 o’clock Tuesday morning, 7 January. My statement should be released by White House or State Department.
Submit this statement to Secretary of State for clearance. If there is anything in it which it is felt would be embarrassing for our Government, I agree now to the changes thought advisable.
The statement should be introduced by the following White House or State Department comment “The following personal statement by General Marshall on the situation in China is released for publication.”
The statement now follows:
[Here follows text of statement which, after a few minor changes,74 was released on January 7; United States Relations With China, page 686, or Department of State Bulletin, January 19, 1947, page 83.]
- In telegram No. 89047, January 6, informing General Marshall of these changes, Colonel Carter reported: “For your information, Mister Byrnes thought your statement exceptionally powerful, although depressing, and certainly one that should be made now. Mister Acheson said it was a clear-cut and tremendously impressive statement of the situation.” Dean Acheson was Under Secretary of State.↩