Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
The Deputy Chief of Staff (Handy) to General Marshall
94527. Eisenhower is away for a week—I have discussed situation with Wedemeyer, 1116 refers. He feels that he should not be employed in any capacity in China under existing conditions. He points to fact that Chinese Communist could be expected to doubt his objectivity due to his close relationship as Chief of Staff to the Generalissimo the past two years. Wedemeyer feels that position of American Chief of Staff to Generalissimo should be discontinued. He points out that conditions that caused President Roosevelt to make such appointment, namely co-ordination of American and Chinese effort against Japanese, no longer maintain. In this regard Wedemeyer feels that President Truman should transmit this information to the Generalissimo. Wedemeyer has written you a personal letter covering this subject fully. This letter was dispatched by courier on July 11.22
No announcement or references of any nature will be made concerning Wedemeyer’s future assignment pending further advice from you.
The Chinese local Embassy has delivered a message to General Wedemeyer conveying the Generalissimo’s and Madame’s good wishes and asking him when he will depart for China. Wedemeyer has not replied to this message. If agreeable to you and if you are satisfied that the Generalissimo will avoid any publicity, he proposes to answer substantially as follows:
“No doubt you have received information concerning fact that I may not return to China. As a soldier you will understand that I should accept any post that my Government desires to give me. My heartfelt thanks to you, Government officials and the Chinese people who co-operated so effectively and selflessly with me and the American men and women under my command. I have complete faith in the ability of China to emerge from the present period of rehabilitation [Page 1360] and adjustment to become a strong, prosperous and happy nation. A personal letter follows. (Signed) Wedemeyer.”
- Not found in Department files.↩