Office of the Historian

856E.00/1–2346: Circular telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic and Consular Officers32

Washington, January 23, 1946—8 a.m.

On Jan 15, 1946 Dept informed Acting Secretary of War that it is not in accord with policy this Govt to employ American flag-vessels or aircraft to transport troops of any nationality to or from Netherlands East Indies or French Indochina nor to permit use of such craft to carry arms, ammunition or military equipment to these areas.33

Acheson
  1. At Bangkok, Batavia, Colombo, Chungking, London, New Delhi, Paris, Singapore, and The Hague.↩
  2. In circular telegram of February 21, midnight, to the same posts, the Department reported its further memorandum on February 14 to the War Department that the purpose of the policy “is to prevent use of American vessels or aircraft” in transporting military units and supplies “for military use in those areas.” (856E.00/2–2146)↩