124.936/2–1545
Memorandum by the Second Secretary of Embassy in China (Boehringer)62
The tenth weekly meeting of representatives of U. S. agencies in Chungking was held at the Embassy at 10:30 a.m., February 6, 1945. General Hurley, the Ambassador, presided over the meeting which was attended by the following:
[Here follows list of those present.]
General Hurley introduced General Olmsted,63 whom he said he had known for many years as a first class soldier and successful executive. General Olmsted referred to the setting up of a G–5 organization in U. S. Army Headquarters here and said the form it would eventually take would resemble that at U. S. Army Headquarters at Cairo rather than at headquarters in Italy or western Europe. He said that G–5 here would be comprised of five branches, the names and activities of which are stated in the enclosed organization chart dated February 6, 1945.64
Dr. Sumner asked how UNRRA64a fitted into the picture insofar as China was concerned. General Olmsted stated that UNRRA would take over control of economic relief and rehabilitation after the Civil Affairs Branch of G–5 had completed its work of preventing disease and unrest in the liberated areas. Mr. Jacobson65 observed that American agencies in China faced a very great problem and that it would be desirable to know something about the scope of activities of UNRRA, FEA and the Chinese WPB. He said the organic law establishing the Chinese Relief and Rehabilitation Administration reportedly contained provisions permitting that Administration to take over certain functions of the Chinese WPB. After stating that it was obviously desirable to have a clear understanding of the relief activities of various U. S. agencies, General Olmsted said it was the intention of the U. S. Army in the China Theater to get out of civil affairs work as rapidly as possible.
Mr. Service66 stated that the U. S. Army would undoubtedly have to concern itself with the logistics of UNRRA supplies for China. General Olmsted expressed concurrence.
[Page 46]General Hurley said there appeared to be a need for coordination of effort among various U. S. agencies planning to engage in relief work in China and that, in this connection, it might be desirable to invite Mr. Benjamin H. Kizer, Director of the China Office of UNRRA, to attend the weekly meetings. He stated there were several factors, such as the international nature of UNRRA, which might make it inadvisable to do so.
Mr. Jacobson stated that the Nelson Group was now planning to bring to China about 20–25 experts to assist the Chinese WPB and that included among them would be four experts to be designated for service in the WPB as aides to the directors of the key departments of raw materials, priorities, manufacturing, and finance. He said that among the other experts would be four or five iron and steel experts, including one coal washing and coke manufacturing expert, who would replace the four experts who have been here since November. 1944. Mr. Jacobson went on to say that two petroleum and one textiles experts were included among those due to arrive here from the United States in the near future.
General Hurley introduced Lieutenant Wiens who said he was a U. S. Navy officer assigned for duty with OSS and had been designated director of the American Publications Service (IDC) to replace Dr. Kates.67 He said he expected to take charge on February 10; that he would operate the Service under the Research and Analysis Section [Branch] of OSS; and that policies in the future would be determined by Captain Clarence Weems, U. S. Navy officer assigned to OSS and working with the U. S. Naval Group, China. Lieutenant Wiens said he intended to carry on the work of APS on substantially the same lines as at present but that, in accordance with arrangements made recently by General Donovan68 with General Tai Li,69 he expected to have important material available for microfilming which Tai Li had heretofore refused to have microfilmed at the APS office. He said it was also planned to take the microfilming equipment to Tai Li’s headquarters outside Chungking to microfilm certain material classified as top secret. Lieutenant Wiens expressed a desire to cooperate with other U. S. agencies and requested their assistance in procurement of enemy publications, documents, et cetera, for microfilming.
In response to a question by General Olmsted, Lieutenant Wiens explained briefly the activities of APS. He added that although APS in the past was not concerned with the “processing” of material from enemy publications, it was possible that eventually the Research and Analysis Section of OSS would attempt such work for local use.
[Page 47]In response to a question by Mr. Herman70 whether there would be any change in the relations between APS and the Coordinated Translation Center, which maintained offices in the APS office, Lieutenant Wiens stated that Captain Weems was empowered to determine future relations between the two organizations.
Major McNair71 stated that Colonel C. C. Dusenberry had been appointed Military Attaché in place of Colonel DePass.
General Hurley adjourned the meeting at 11:50 a.m.
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in China in his covering despatch No. 145, February 15; received March 3.↩
- Brig. Gen. George Olmsted, Assistant Chief of Staff, G–5 (Civil Affairs), U. S. Army Headquarters in China.↩
- Not printed.↩
- United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration.↩
- James A. Jacobson, Assistant American Adviser to the China War Production Board.↩
- John S. Service, Second Secretary of Embassy.↩
- G. N. Kates.↩
- William J. Donovan, Director of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS).↩
- Director of the Chinese Central Investigation and Statistics Bureau.↩
- T. Herman, of the American Information Service.↩
- Roy P. McNair, Assistant Military Attaché in China.↩