Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
General Marshall to the Chief of Staff (Eisenhower)
1116. At the present time I cannot say when my negotiations might be completed in China or when I might return to the United States. My tenure of office in this hdqs not indefinite and I wish to return to the States before the middle of September.
Whether or not it would be desirable politically for General Wedemeyer to replace me at that time cannot now be predicted. Another question is the desire of the Generalissimo with regard to Wedemeyer’s services as his Chief of Staff. I have not discussed Wedemeyer at all with the Generalissimo. I doubt the advisability of having a United States Chief of Staff in view of Communists’ present anti-American campaign. Please discuss situation with Wedemeyer and get his views for me. Incidentally, I do not need his assurances that he will willingly and cheerfully do anything I think might be helpful. I know that to be a fact.
I suggest that you give him such choice as possible for a home assignment but I would prefer that no announcement be made for several weeks so as to avoid if possible insinuations that he has been sacrificed to Communist pressure. I anticipate that he need not return here, but cannot state this conclusively at this time.