390.1115A/12–544: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in China (Atcheson)
1601. At a conference yesterday of representatives of FEA, OWI, War and State Departments (Department’s no. 1596, paragraph 2) the following decision was reached responsive to your 1951, December 5:
FEA and OWI will dispatch telegrams through the State Department and the Embassy to the chiefs of their respective offices in Chungking instructing them to be guided entirely by the advice of Generals Wedemeyer and Hurley and the Embassy with regard to reduction [Page 207] of their American staffs. In as much as OWI and FEA have personnel at places in China other than Chungking, it is believed that consideration will have to be given to the overall staff requirements of the two organizations in connection with plans for the reduction of Chungking staffs.
The Department again requests that the matter be handled in a manner to attract as little attention as possible and that withdrawal of Americans be advised only after most careful consideration of each individual case.
The Department hopes to receive information from you with regard to British plans soon.