740.00119 Control (Korea)/2–747: Telegram
The Secretary of State to General of the Army Douglas MacArthur, at Tokyo
37. For MacArthur from Marshall. This is a further report on Korea. Secretary Patterson and I have decided to convene a high level [Page 606] State Department and War Department Committee to make recommendations on future policy in Korea. Patterson and I believe that it would be highly desirable to have General Hodge confer with and advise this committee and to discuss the conclusions of the committee with Patterson and me. If this suggestion meets with your approval, will you please arrange to have General Hodge proceed to Washington as soon as convenient to you and him. If you feel the necessity of additional assistance in Korea during absence of Hodge, War Department can make General Gillem, now in China, available to you as temporary substitute for Hodge with possibility of taking over permanently.21 Though please treat this last as most confidential pending your reaction and ours to Hodge’s report here.
- General MacArthur replied in telegram CX 69933 (received February 10) that General Hodge would reach Washington February 18 and added: “Hodge is thoroughly satisfactory commander but if for any reason he drops out I would be delighted to have Gillem.” (740.00119 Control (Korea)/2–1047) Lt. Gen. Alvan C. Gillem, Jr., was Commanding General, Peiping Headquarters, and American Commissioner, Executive Headquarters at Peiping.↩