Office of the Historian

Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram

General Marshall to the Commander of the Seventh Fleet (Cooke)

[Nanking,] 17 December 1946.

1880. Reference our conversation on [naval and army] Advisory Group contract.65 I found out after our discussion that delay is in Washington and not here as I had originally thought. In view of the fact pressure by me in Washington at this particular moment would be inconsistent with possible governmental action I told you about and because of adverse publicity resulting in conclusions of contract, I have now decided to withhold action for the time being.66

  1. Minutes of meeting between General Marshall and Admiral Cooke at Nanking on December 16, not printed; General Marshall stated at that time that this agreement would become effective under Public Law 512 so far as the Navy was concerned and under the President’s war-time powers so far as the Army was concerned.↩
  2. According to minutes of a meeting between General Marshall and Minister-Counselor Butterworth on December 17, “Mr. Butterworth stated that the contract for the Advisory Group was still under consideration by the State, War, and Navy Departments, and that without further authority from the State Department he could not take steps to conclude the contract” and he “also stressed the damaging publicity which would result with the signing of the contract at this time.”↩