803.00/11–648: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received November 6—11:12 a.m.]
Martel 111. Dr. T. S. Tsiang, Chinese delegate to UN, called on me this morning with a message from Foreign Minister Dr. Wang:
- (1)
- Would US agree to appointment of US officers in actual command of Chinese army units under pretense of acting as advisers?
- (2)
- Would US appoint officer of high rank to head special mission primarily for advice and planning on emergency situation?
- (3)
- Will US expedite supply of munitions?
- (4)
- What was thought as to advisability of Chinese appeal to UN because of Soviet training and equipping of Japanese military and also Koreans?
I explained efforts regarding (3) (supply of munitions) and stated I would request you to press for urgent action. I did not offer encouragement beyond present efforts.
I said I would refer requests under (2) and (3) to Washington without making any comment reference (1).
I remarked regarding (2) that proposition inherently involved great difficulties if favorably considered; that if individual did not know China it would require months for him to grasp understanding of possibilities of situation, and it would therefore be a very serious matter for US to send an officer to almost certain failure.
Regarding (4) I said I would have to consult my colleagues of US delegation to develop various possibilities; that offhand I thought it an inadvisable procedure and discussed possible Soviet moves to take advantage rather than to counter such a move. Dr. Tsiang told me the proposition had been put to him three times and each time he had recommended against such action.