Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram

The Chief of Staff (Eisenhower) to Lieutenant General Albert C. Wedemeyer

82605. Re 26845.8 You are authorized to release a statement along the lines proposed in reference radio with the following modifications:

First, there will be no reference to any statement released here by the State Dept or other agency. It is believed that Mr. Byrnes will not make a statement on this matter.

Second, avoid the use of the word operations or operational. This is requested by the State Dept apparently because of the belief that to many the term implies combat or matters related to combat.

Third, in presenting the thought that residual duties such as surplus property, repatriation, etc will not permit redeployment of personnel now in China, include in that portion of the release the thought that the retention of personnel for these functions is temporary; for instance say that these duties will not permit immediate redeployment. While it is noted that this thought is emphasized in a separate paragraph of your proposed release it would be well to have each statement present as complete a picture as possible when picked from the context of the release.9

  1. Supra.
  2. A statement by General Wedemeyer was issued to the press at Shanghai on April 1, reported in the New York Times, April 2, 1946, p. 2, col. 5.