811.326/9–2745
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Vincent) to the Under Secretary of State (Acheson)
Subject: Occupation of Chinese Cities by American Troops
I am concerned, as I told you on Tuesday68 in the Map Room and as I have indicated in my memorandum of September 20 (copy attached) regarding the use of American troops to occupy certain Chinese ports and maintain “stability”. You will recall that one of the Army officers explaining the maps said that a division of Marines would be sent to Tientsin to occupy the Tientsin–Peking area, and another division would be sent to Tsingtao, and that a battalion from one of the divisions would be sent to Chefoo. You will also recall that another of the officers had just previously mentioned reports that Chinese Communist troops were massing to occupy Tsingtao and also reports that there were Chinese Communist troop concentrations in north China in the Peking–Tientsin area.
If I were sure that these dispositions of American Marines were in fact under way I would suggest a memorandum to the President. [Page 571] However, I really think the matter should be brought informally and orally to the attention of the President if there is a means of doing so; or at least Mr. McCloy should be asked about the matter. General Wedemeyer is now in the city and will presumably see the President. I think the President should be prepared to discuss the matter with him and, unless there are over-riding military reasons for carrying out these dispositions of American Marines, the plan should be abandoned in favor of occupation by Chinese troops.
- September 25.↩