893.24/4–1647
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation, by the Deputy Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Penfield)
Mr. Bang-Jensen82 telephoned this morning to inquire regarding our policy on arms exports to China. He indicated that his interest was based on the desire of the Danish Madsen interests to export some arms to China from Denmark.
I told Mr. Bang-Jensen that during the course of General Marshall’s mission to China it became apparent that the continuation at that time [Page 821] of some phases of our programs of military aid to China, which had been set up during and just after the war for the purpose of assisting in the defeat of the Japanese and in the reoccupation of Chinese territories previously held by the Japanese, was not conducive to peace and unity in China or to the best interests of the United States. Therefore, since September 1946 no export licenses for the export to China of combat type items of military equipment have been granted and all transfer of US military equipment in China to the Chinese has been suspended. I said that these prohibitions were still in effect, although delivery of civilian type items is still being permitted. I added that the British and Canadians have been following a similar policy. I expressed an interest in learning what line the Danish Government would follow in regard to this question.
Mr. Bang-Jensen thanked me for the information and said he would bear in mind our interest in being informed of Danish policy in regard to arms exports to China.
- Povl Bang-Jensen, Counselor of the Danish Embassy.↩