Office of the Historian

893.24/9–2445

Memorandum by Mr. William T. Turner of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs to the Director of the Office (Vincent)

[Washington,] September 24, 1945.

Colonel Vittrup65 at his regular call this morning said that in connection with the talks that Mr. Soong had had with the President he understood that there was an agreement between them for the transfer to the Chinese of arms and equipment now in India and other places. He said that as far as the War Department was aware no machinery and no plan had been set up for transfer. The War Department is now anxious to withdraw its personnel from the East and is therefore desirous of obtaining some decision by someone in [Page 569] regard to terms, plan, and mechanics of the transfer. He said that the matter would probably reach us in due course through formal channels but that he would appreciate as early as possible some indication of our thoughts in the matter.66

  1. Col. Russell L. Vittrup, liaison officer between the Department of State and the War Department.↩
  2. Marginal notation by the Director of the Office (Vincent): “I told him this morning that everything seemed to be awaiting arrival of General Wedemever JCV”.↩