Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
The Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Commanding Generals, United States Forces, China Theater (Wedemeyer) and India–Burma Theater (Sultan)
Warx 51593. The China–Burma–India Theater is abolished and 2 theaters are substituted therefor as follows:
a. The China Theater, b. the India–Burma Theater. The order of the Secretary of War assigning General Stilwell to China and the initial letter of instructions to him signed by the Chief of Staff, both dated 2 February 194295 are rescinded as well as subsequent modifications or supplements thereto in conflict herewith. The following directive to the Commanding General, U. S. Forces China Theater and to the Commanding General U. S. Forces, India–Burma Theater are issued in lieu thereof, effective this date.
A. Directive to the Commanding General, U. S. Forces, China Theater.
- 1.
- Boundaries: The boundaries of the China Theater include the mainland of China and Indo-China and Islands immediately adjacent thereto such as Hongkong, but excluding Formosa and Hainan.
- 2.
- a. Command: All U. S. Forces within the geographic boundaries of the China Theater are under your command except as stated in paragraph 2b below or as you may agree to under paragraph 6 below. Your control over Chinese and other Allied Forces will be defined in separate agreements with the authorities concerned.
- b. Certain units in the China Theater such as the Air Transport Command, 20th Air Force and Navy Group China are not under your full control. Their status as shown in directives to Commanding General, U. S. Army Forces, China–Burma–India will remain unchanged in so far as the directives are applicable to you as Commanding General, U. S. Forces China Theater.
- 3.
- Mission. a. Your primary mission with respect to Chinese Forces is to advise and assist the Generalissimo in the conduct of military operations against the Japanese.
- b. Your primary mission as to U. S. combat forces under your command is to carry out air operations from China. In addition you [Page 179] will continue to assist the Chinese Air and Ground Forces in operations, training and in logistical support.
- c. You will not employ United States resources for suppression of civil strife except in so far as necessary to protect United States lives and property.
- 4.
- Position Under Chinese Government. You are authorized to accept the position of Chief of Staff to the Generalissimo.
- 5.
- Relations to India–Burma and Other Theaters. You will coordinate directly with the Commanding General of the U. S. Forces India–Burma Theater and with other theater and force commanders to the extent necessary to carry out your mission.
- Your requirements for units, supplies, equipment and personnel will be submitted to the War Department through the Commanding General, U. S. Forces, India–Burma Theater.
- 6.
- Special Instructions: If desirable to facilitate accomplishment of your mission, you are authorized to make specific agreements with the Commanding General, U. S. Forces, India–Burma wherein he will accept responsibility for certain installations or operations within the geographic boundaries of your theater, or wherein you will accept responsibility for certain installations or operations within his theater. The War Department will be kept informed.
- 7.
- Allocation of U. S. Supplies: Within the priorities set by the Joint Chiefs of Staff you will control allocation of supplies delivered into China by U. S. facilities and will keep the commander U. S. Forces India–Burma Theater informed as to projected allocations.
B. Directive to the Commanding General, U. S. Forces, India–Burma Theater.
- 1.
- Boundaries: The boundaries of the India–Burma Theater are as follows: From the junction of the 60 meridian with the Iranian coast, north to Kerman exclusive; thence to Ashkhabad inclusive; thence southeast and south along the northern and eastern border of Iran to the Indian border; from this point along the boundary between India and Afghanistan to the boundary of China; thence east and south along the boundary of China to Indo-China; thence south along the western Indo-China border to the Gulf of Siam; thence west and south along the coast of Thailand and the Malay Peninsula to Singapore; from Singapore south to the north coast of Sumatra; thence round the east coast of Sumatra (leaving the Sunda Strait to the eastward of the line) to a point on the coast of Sumatra at longitude 104 degrees east; thence south to latitude 08 degrees south; thence southeasterly towards Anslow, Australia, and on reaching longitude 110 degress east, due south along that meridian.
- On the west, the boundary extends from the point of origin southward along meridian 60 degrees east to Albatross Island thence southeastward to exclude Rodriquez Island and thence due southward.
- 2.
- Command: All United States Army Forces within the geographic boundaries of the India–Burma Theater are under your command except as stated in paragraph 2b below or as you may agree to under paragraph 6. Your control over Chinese or forces of other nations will be as defined in separate agreements with the authorities concerned.
- b. Certain units in the India–Burma Theater such as the Air Transport Command and the 20th Air Force are not under your full control. Their status as shown in directives to Commanding General, U. S. Army Forces China–Burma–India will remain unchanged in so far as the directives are applicable to you as Commanding General, U. S. Forces India–Burma Theater.
- 3.
- Mission: a. Your primary mission is to support the China Theater in carrying out its mission as specified in (A) above. This includes the establishment, maintenance, operation and security of the land L of C96 to China, and the security of the air route to China.
- b. As directed by the Combined Chiefs of Staff you will participate in and support the operations of the Southeast Asia Command. For this purpose forces involved under your Command will be under the operational control of SACSEA.
- c. In accordance with pertinent existing and future directives, you will be responsible for the logistic and administrative support of all U. S. Army Forces in the India–Burma Theater.
- d. You will not employ U. S. resources for suppression of civil strife except in so far as necessary to protect U. S. lives and property.
- 4.
- Your requirements will be submitted to the appropriate agency in India or Washington in accordance with present policies. Requirements of the China Theater which cannot be met from resources available to you will be submitted by you to the War Department and where practicable be separated from requirements of the India–Burma Theater.
- 5.
- China and other Theaters: You will coordinate directly with the Commanding General of the China Theater and with the Supreme Allied Commander, Southeast Asia Command and C-in-C India, to the extent necessary to carry out your mission.
- The India–Burma Theater must serve as the communications zone for the China Theater and requisitions will be made accordingly by the Commanding General of the China Theater.
- 6.
- Special Instructions: If desirable to facilitate accomplishment of your mission, you are authorized to make specific agreements with [Page 181] the Commanding General, U. S. Forces China wherein he will accept responsibility for certain installations or operations within the geographic boundaries of your theater, or wherein you will accept responsibility for certain installations or operations within his theater. The War Department will be kept informed.