795.00/8–2850

Memorandum by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Merchant) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State (Matthews)

secret

In accordance with your instructions I asked General Burns this morning urgently to ascertain from the Department of Defense all relevant facts concerning the alleged bombing of three Manchurian cities as charged in Chou En-lai’s communication to the Secretary.1

Shortly after noon, General Burns read me the text of the attached copy of memorandum prepared by General Vandenberg for Secretary Johnson. After receiving this text I pointed out to General Burns through Captain Murdaugh2 that the memorandum contained no mention of whatever air activity there was on August 27, the date of the alleged bombing and asked that, if it had not already been done, the Department of Defense urgently inquire of General MacArthur’s headquarters what if any US air activity there was in the border areas on August 27.

In my first conversation I had asked General Burns if Defense was planning to issue a denial in addition to that already issued in Tokyo by FEAF and added that this Department would naturally have no [Page 463] objection if they decided to do so. General Burns said he knew of no such intent but would check into the matter.3

[Annex]

Memorandum by the Chief of Staff, United States Air Force (Vandenberg), to the Secretary of Defense (Johnson)

secret

I refer to the charge made by Communist China concerning alleged air attacks upon three cities—Linkiang, Chi (Tsain), and Talitzu, all located across the Yalu River from Northwest Korea.

I can state that on the basis of information available in Washington, no United States aircraft have at any time attacked the three cities mentioned. General Stratemeyer4 has specific instructions from the Chief of Staff of the Air Force concerning specific targets to be attacked and General Stratemeyer has reported no attacks in violation of his instructions. Further, strike reports and strike photos indicate that no target instructions have been violated.

In the northwestern area of Korea our air forces have attacked a bridge at Kusong, North Korea, which is at least 38 miles from the Yalu River border. In northeastern area United States air forces have attacked targets at Najin, which targets are located at least 18 miles from the border. All of the targets attacked were positively identified before attack. Post strike photographs indicate damage only in the target area.

United States reconnaissance aircraft have flown in the vicinity of the border of North Korea but by direction have scrupulously remained well clear of those borders. One of our reconnaissance aircraft on the 24th of August, while flying south and east of the Yalu River border but well clear of it, at a position near Sinuiju, reported receiving controlled anti-aircraft fire from gun positions across the Yalu River in the Antung (Manchuria) area. This particular reconnaissance flight carried aboard no bombs. No United States reconnaissance aircraft carry bombs.

Hoyt S. Vandenberg
  1. Under date of August 28, Chou En-lai had complained to Mr. Acheson and to Trygve Lie that United States planes bombed and strafed Chinese territory, damaging buildings and vehicles and injuring and killing civilians. He urged that the U.N. Security Council condemn these aggressive acts and take measures to insure United States withdrawal from Korea. (U.N. document S/1722)
  2. Capt. Albert C. Murdaugh, Acting Director of the Office of Foreign Military Affairs, Department of Defense.
  3. On August 29, the United States Representative at the United Nations (Austin) informed the Secretary-General that no evidence had been found to indicate that United States aircraft had violated the instructions under which they operated prohibiting them from crossing the frontiers of Korea into adjacent territory. The United States said that it would welcome an investigation on the spot by a Commission to be appointed by the Security Council. (U.N. document S/1727)

    On August 30, the People’s Republic of China again complained of the killing and wounding of Chinese civilians by United States planes on the previous day (S/1743). The question was taken up by the Security Council on August 31; see editorial note, p. 476.

  4. Lt. Gen. George E. Stratemeyer, Commanding General, U.S. Far East Air Forces.