Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
Lieutenant General Albert C. Wedemeyer to the Chief of Staff ( Eisenhower )
Shanghai
, 7 February
1946.
22520. Operation of Liberty ships radio 9520842 is subj. Plans for operation of these ships provide that the Chinese Government will bear all operating and maintenance expenses. Operational control of these vessels will be accomplished by establishing the following proposed priorities:
- a.
- First priority-transportation of and logistical support of certain Chinese Armies in furtherance of the mission of China Theater in assisting the Chinese National Government in the disarming and/or repatriation of Japanese, Korea, and Formosan military and/or civilian personnel.
- b.
- Second priority-transportation of cargo or personnel in direct support of Chinese national economy, ie, backloading.
- c.
- Third priority-transportation of such other necessary cargo or personnel as are within China Theater Mission.
- 2.
- To insure that these priorities are strictly adhered to, all requests for transportation via Liberty ships under my control will be cleared through my G 4. Approved requests for transportation will then be forwarded to the Director of the Staff Agency (Theater Transportation Officer) who will issue the necessary directives to the Chinese National Shipping Administration.
- 3.
- It is desired to point out that the employment of these ships in repatriation service was not contemplated in SCAP plan expressed in 5571743 and in 88411,44 but that they will be used entirely for logistical support of Chinese Armies.
- 4.
- Since movement of Chinese Armies has not proceeded as planned in 55717 and an availability of Navy LSTs for completion of all movements is doubtful, the assistance of these Liberty ships will be required to complete movement schedules, and will be kept fully employed under our plan without engaging in repatriation of Japanese.
- 5.
- In view of the concern of the Generalissimo and T.V. Soong in not securing complete control of these ships Reourad 21627,45 and in order to obtain Chinese approval of my plan, I consider transportation under the proposed second and third priority is essential to permit the Chinese Government to realize some benefit from the operation of these ships when they are not required in first priority movements. I desire [Page 790] to reiterate that no movements will be made to North China without prior approval of General Marshall, refer China Theater directive from War Department and my 21627.