Lieutenant General Albert C. Wedemeyer to the Joint Chiefs of Staff 10

27412. 1. Joint Chiefs of Staff 82100 (Navy 261746)11 to Wedemeyer and Towers for action directs on 1st May inactivation of China Theater and effective that date activates United States Army Forces in China and transfers operational control of Marine Forces in China to Commander, Seventh Fleet (ComSeventhFleet) Acting for CinCPac. CinCPac 27032712 directs ComSeventhFleet to take necessary action to implement the foregoing directive. The following sets forth summary of Army and Navy implementing plans:

2. Commanding General (ComGen) United States Army Forces (USAF) in China will carry out the following tasks:

a.
Assistance to Peiping Executive Headquarters.
b.
Establishment of United States Army Advisory Group.
c.
Advice and assistance to Chinese Government in assuming control of that part of China including Manchuria liberated from the Japanese.
d.
Advice and assistance to Chinese Government in repatriating Korean and Japanese personnel.
e.
Assistance to China Search and Graves Registration Program.
f.
Limited operational logistic support to the Chinese Air Force; this support will cease on 30th June 1946.
g.
Liaison with Chinese Government on Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) program for aerial mapping of China.
h.
Limited administrative support of Air Transport Command, Army Airways Communications System, and Army Communication Service.
i.
Conduct of war crimes trials.

3. ComSeventhFleet will continue to support ComGen USAF, China in accordance with pertinent Joint Chiefs of Staff directives.

4.13 The Marine Forces in China will execute the following tasks under operational control of ComGen China until 1st May and thereafter under the operational control of ComSeventhFleet:

a.
Maintain garrison forces in north China as follows:
(1)
Peiping–Tientsin area with such detachments at port areas as are required for their own support.
(2)
Tsingtao Area.
b.
Continue to assist and provide logistical support for the Executive Headquarters until relieved by the U. S. Army Forces in China.
c.
Continue to assist the U. S. Army Forces in China in the repatriation of Korean and of Japanese personnel from north China until repatriation is completed.
d.
Coordinate the relief by Central Government Forces of Marine Forces engaged in providing security in north China except that required by the Marines for their own security and support (ComGenChina accepts responsibility of arranging with Chinese Government for the Chinese troops required and with General Marshall for authority for their movement).
e.
Conduct no activities which prejudice the basic United States principles that the United States will not support the Central Government in fratricidal warfare. This does not preclude United States Commanders from taking such action as they deem necessary to protect United States property and the lives of United States personnel.
f.
Prepare plans for withdrawal of Marine Forces and be prepared to execute as directed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

5. a. ComGen U. S. Army Forces in China will maintain liaison with CinCPac through Commander Seventh Fleet, Peiping Executive Headquarters, General Marshall, the Chinese Government, and adjacent theaters, and will continue or establish such assisting agencies as are necessary for this purpose.

b. ComSeventhFleet will maintain liaison with ComGen United States Army Forces in China, Peiping Executive Headquarters for General Marshall, and the Chinese Government. Since Headquarters of ComSeventhFleet must be mobile, he will set up the following assisting agencies:

(1)
A group at Shanghai for liaison with USAF China. When ComSeventhFleet is at Shanghai, direct liaison as now established between ComGenChina and ComSeventhFleet will be continued.
(2)
A group at the seat of the Chinese Government for liaison with General Marshall and the Chinese Government.
(3)
A Marine Group at Peiping Executive Headquarters.

6. Matters of Joint concern will be taken up with General Marshall or the Chinese Government by ComSeventhFleet or ComGen USAF China on the basis of paramount interest after full coordination between the two commanders.

7. ComGenChina recommends the following additional tasks for the Marines in which General Marshall has indicated concurrence:

a.
The Third Amphibious Corps will initiate by 15th April:
(1)
Reduction of Ground Elements based on the Peiping–Tientsin area to one regimental combat team with supporting service troops.
(2)
Reduction of Ground Elements in the Tsingtao area to one regimental combat team, with supporting service troops.
b.
The Third Amphibious Corps will:
(1)
Evacuate the Tsingtao area by 1st July 1946.
(2)
Evacuate the Peiping–Tientsin area in accordance with instructions to be issued later. (Tentative target date 30th September 1946.)
(3)
Reduce Air Elements to the minimum necessary to support the Marine Forces remaining in China and as long as in China to provide such Air Support to Executive Headquarters as cannot be provided by United States Army Forces in China.

8. ComSeventhFleet considers that, if the additional tasks recommended in paragraph 7 above, are approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the responsible Commanders may have some flexibility as to dates in carrying out the tasks in paragraph 4d, above, which involves coordination with Chinese Forces and passing responsibilities to other agencies not under his control.

9. Both Commanders request instructions in order that implementing directive may be issued to Commander Third Amphibious Corps.

  1. Filed in SWNCC Files, Lot 52–M45; this telegram revised on the basis of a copy furnished by the Department of Defense.
  2. Telegram of March 26, p. 859.
  3. Telegram of March 27, not printed.
  4. The text of paragraph 4 was included in Operational Directive No. 12 of April 17 as transmitted in telegram No. 28718, April 17, from Lt. Gen. Albert C. Wedemeyer, not printed.