893.00/11–2045
Minutes of the Meeting of the Secretaries of State, War, and Navy
| Present: | The Secretary of State |
| The Secretary of War accompanied by Assistant Secretary of War John J. McCloy and Colonel Charles W. McCarthy | |
| The Secretary of the Navy and Major Correa | |
| Mr. Matthews |
Policy Toward China
Mr. Byrnes brought up the question of the problem presented by the presence of our Marines in North China and the purpose of their remaining there. He referred particularly to the advantages of retaining them for the time being to repatriate Japanese from that area. He then read a memorandum prepared for him in the Department of State47 outlining the present situation, setting forth the various advantages and disadvantages involved in the question of whether or not to withdraw our Marines and the action required to implement either solution. A copy of the memorandum is attached as Annex A. Mr. Forrestal said that it seemed to him that we are on sound ground if we say that our Marines are in North China to complete the task of the defeat of Japan. If we say that we are there for the purpose of backing Chiang Kai-shek we would be subject to considerable criticism. He referred to a recent editorial of Mr. Luce in Life advocating support of Chiang and said that Mr. Luce had told him that so far he had had a good reaction to his editorial.
Mr. Patterson said that 90% of the job of whipping Japan has been done and the remaining 10% is easy. It involves keeping the ports open and the railroads running in order to evacuate Japanese from China. If we follow such a policy he thought Chungking would back us, as Allies, but he is doubtful whether Chiang could do it alone. He sees no peril in increasing our commitment. He thought that the 60,000 Marines who are there could walk from one end of China to the other without serious hindrance. Such incidents as there have been are merely comic opera fighting. In reply to Mr. Byrnes’ question Mr. Forrestal said that so far there had been no Marine casualties other than one man who had hurt his back. Mr. Patterson pointed out that of course the Marines there are anxious to get home just as all our forces are everywhere. Mr. Forrestal said that he did not like to see us withdraw as a result of Russian pressure. Mr. Patterson [Page 647] said that our Marines are in fact there to effectuate the repatriation of the Japanese and if the incidental effect of their presence is to support the Government of Chiang Kai-shek so much the better. He said that he believed that this was in line with the policy of both President Roosevelt and President Truman and that we already have a considerable investment in that policy. Mr. Byrnes remarked that both sides in China seem to be playing for Japanese support. He said that the Japanese must have heard reports of the fate of their fellow nationals who were in Manchuria and he believes that most of them would prefer to go back to Japan rather than take a chance on what would happen to them with the Russians in the light of the large scale deportation to Siberia.
Mr. McCloy then read a telegram which was sent to General Wedemeyer last evening48 asking for certain factual information and for an evaluation of possible courses of action. He said that this telegram gives General Wedemeyer an opportunity to express his views with regard to the long range future. To date General Wedemeyer has only said that his mission has been completed. Mr. Byrnes said that he had told the President that he had asked our military authorities’ views on the wisdom of getting the 800,000 Japanese out of China.
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