Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, The Far East: China, Volume X

893.20 Mission/2–2146

Memorandum by the Secretary of State to President Truman ²⁶

[Washington,] February 21, 1946.

There is attached a proposed directive to be issued by you to the Secretaries of State, War and Navy which authorizes the establishment of a U. S. Military Advisory Group to China.

The original directive as approved on February 14 by the State–War–Navy Coordinating Committee (SWNCC paper no. 83/17) has been altered by me, with the approval of the Secretaries of War and Navy, to include what is now the second sentence in the proposed directive and to make what is now the third sentence into a separate paragraph.

In as much as the substance of the Joint Chiefs of Staff memorandum, which forms the basis of SWNCC 83/17, has been submitted to General Marshall through General Wedemeyer and General Marshall has on previous occasions indicated his desire for the early establishment of the Advisory Group, it is not believed necessary to resubmit the full memorandum for his comment as suggested in your telegram no. 406 of February 13 to General Marshall.²⁷

[Annex]

Directive to the Secretaries of State, War and the Navy²⁸

The Secretaries of War and the Navy are authorized and directed to establish jointly a U. S. Military Advisory Group to China. The strength of the Advisory Group shall not exceed one thousand officers and men except as authorized by me in the light of possible future political and military developments.

The Secretary of State will conduct the necessary negotiations with the Chinese Government.

The object of this Advisory Group will be to assist and advise the Chinese Government in the development of modern armed forces for the fulfillment of these obligations which may devolve upon China under her international agreements including the United Nations Organization, for the establishment of adequate control over liberated areas in China, including Manchuria, and Formosa, and for the maintenance of internal peace and security.

26. Prepared by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Vincent).
27. Vol. ix, p. 434.
28. Signed by President Truman on February 25; SWNCC circulated copy (SWNCC 83/18, March 1) “for information, guidance, and, where appropriate, implementation”; copy of SWNCC 83/18 transmitted to the Embassy in China by the Secretary of State in instruction No. 483, March 7 (not printed) and copy transmitted to General Marshall in telegram No. 98446, February 26 (not printed).