800.24/9–1345: Circular telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Officers 48a
The following JCS memorandum49 “Military Lend-Lease Policy After Unconditional Surrender or Defeat of Japan” was approved by the President on Sept. 5.
“Upon my announcement of the surrender of Japan, the issue to Allied Governments of Lend-Lease munitions and the provision of Lend-Lease services, procured and sponsored by the War and Navy Departments, will stop, except for assistance to Allied forces engaged against Japanese forces which have not surrendered.
No exceptions to the above shall be made other than in certain unavoidable cases where the abrupt cessation of aid would cause undue hardships. This aid shall not include arms or ammunition and shall cease immediately when arrangements for provision other than by Lend-Lease can be made, and in no case shall it extend beyond 6 months from the effective date of this instrument.
The above policy may be given the following interpretation:
- a.
- Allied forces necessary to reduce any Japanese resistance continuing after capitulation of the Japanese home government may be furnished such aid as the Joint Chiefs of Staff consider justified.
- b.
- Aid may be furnished to Allied forces in the form of rations, shelter, medical supplies and services, petroleum products, fuel and transportation services where these cannot be reasonably furnished by the foreign government concerned, and where denial would work immediate hardship on Allied forces, or on U. S. forces which are dependent upon continued support by elements of Allied forces. Such aid is considered as a liquidating measure and will be reduced and finally eliminated at the earliest date practicable and in no case will it be extended beyond six months from the effective date of this instrument.
- c.
- Aid may be furnished to supply maintenance items for U. S. equipment now in the possession of Allied forces against payment upon such terms and conditions as determined by the State Department and Foreign Economic Administration in accordance with established procedure. Such aid will be reduced and finally eliminated at the earliest date practicable and in no case will it be extended beyond 6 months from the effective date of this instrument.
- d.
- Maintenance, repair, training, transportation and other services already undertaken may be continued to the nearest practicable stopping point as determined by the senior U. S. commander in overseas theaters and by the Secretaries of War and the Navy for all other projects sponsored by the War and Navy Departments respectively.
- e.
- Lend-Lease to China will be in accordance with the recent
directive [Page 559] to the
Commanding General, U. S. Forces, China Theater,50 which includes
provision that:51
‘… the United States will not support the Central Government of China in fratricidal war.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
‘In case Japanese forces in China continue resistance after capitulation of the Japanese home government, you will continue your present mission with reference to the Generalissimo and to U. S. forces under your command in the China Theater. Your action on Japanese capitulation will be on the basis that military assistance will be continued for the present for the purpose of supporting Chinese military operations essential to the reoccupation by Central Government forces of all areas in the China Theater now held by the Japanese, and the placing of Chinese occupation forces in Japan proper, Formosa, and Korea.’”
You are authorized at your discretion to communicate the above to the government to which you are accredited.