Office of the Historian

Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram

General Marshall to Colonel Marshall S. Carter

Nanking, 4 September 1946.

1445. Favor extending credit to the Government of China for the purchase of commercial type vessels, Urad 9880775 refers, under the Merchant Ships Sales Act of 1946 subject to some such proviso as:

“It is the desire of the United States Government that these commercial type vessels be destined for a united and democratic China under a coalition government. It is therefore understood by the Chinese Government that if it appears to be the best interests of the United States, this program for transfer of these ships can be terminated unilaterally by the United States subject to such financial adjustments as may be subsequently negotiated”.

  1. Telegram of August 28, not printed.↩