740.00119 Pacific War/3–2646
Memorandum by General Marshall to the Secretary of State 6
The following is a proposed announcement by you, if this proves necessary relative to American forces in China. It is the result of a compromise between certain Naval complications in the theater and Army proposals. I hope it will prove satisfactory.
“The so-called China theater of operations will be inactivated on May 1 next. As a result, the only United States Forces, other than Naval, remaining in China will consist of those required to dispose of surplus U. S. property, to complete assistance to the Chinese Government in the repatriation of the Japanese and in the movement of Chinese armies and equipment, and to participate in the operation of Executive Headquarters in Peiping which was established by the President’s Special Envoy, General Marshall, to implement the agreements he reached with the representatives of the Chinese Government and the Communist Party to terminate hostilities, restore communications, and effect demobilization and reorganization of the armies.
“In anticipation of this inactivation the U. S. Army Forces have already been reduced by 60,000, that is by 90 percent, and there are now no army combat units, either air or ground, remaining in China.
“The Marine forces in China have already been reduced from about 53,000 to 34,000. The reduction in strength will be continued throughout the spring.”
- Original transmitted to the Secretary of State, temporarily in New York, by the Acting Secretary of State in his letter of March 26.↩