Office of the Historian

893.51/3–1747

Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Vincent) to the Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Clayton)

[Washington,] March 17, 1947.

I am attaching a copy of a memorandum10 which I sent to General Marshall last Friday together with a copy of his instruction11 which caused me to take the action reported in my memorandum.

The prospects of favorable action are clearly not encouraging, but knowing how earnestly the Secretary desires that something be done I think that we ought to leave no stone unturned here in trying to do something. Incidentally, he spent an hour with me the day before his departure talking over this matter.

I am also attaching a copy of my earlier memorandum12 and Bennett’s memorandum13 to which the General refers in his instruction to me. These memoranda grew out of an earlier conversation I had with him.

I should like to talk to you about this as soon as you can conveniently arrange the time. You will note that I have sent copies of my memorandum to the Secretary to Mr. Thorp14 and Mr. Ness.15 It will be helpful if they could be present at our meeting.

J[ohn] C[arter] V[incent]
  1. Dated March 14, p. 1088.↩
  2. Memorandum of March 4, p. 1085.↩
  3. Dated February 28, p. 1082.↩
  4. Dated February 20, p. 1076.↩
  5. Willard L. Thorp, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs.↩
  6. Norman T. Ness, Director of the Office of Financial and Development Policy.↩