893.20 Mission/6–1648
Memorandum by Brigadier General Marshall S. Carter to the Director of the Joint Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Gruenther)
General Marshall has read the draft of the directive furnished him yesterday. He has these comments to make:
The latter part of Paragraph 5 uses language which was applicable during the immediate postwar period, but which no longer appears appropriate. The language is actually that used in the Presidential Directive of February 25, 1946. It would appear better should the paragraph be completed with the following: “to assist and advise the Chinese Government in the development of modern armed forces for the purpose of enabling China to create a national military establishment in keeping with its national defense needs and to fulfill its obligations as a member of the United Nations.” The specific references to liberated areas, including Manchuria and Formosa, appear unwise.
Paragraph 6 a (5) gives one the functions of the Joint Advisory Council as “furnishing advice and assistance to the Chinese armed forces in the establishment and operation of a joint procurement and distribution system.” This is probably all right. However, there is a questionable factor involved in the Chinese habit of procurement procedures of outright requisition without reimbursement, and some other dubious practices.
[Page 266]In Paragraphs 6 b (1), 6 c (1) and 6 d (1) the expression, “and equipping of all Chinese _________ forces” is employed. Whether or not this involves an implied commitment of the United States Government to the provision of equipment for all Chinese armed services is uncertain. It would appear better to insert the word “and” between “organization, training”, and to omit the words “and equipping”. Under the expression “organization” character of equipment is, of course, implied, which is the important consideration.
The relationship between JUSMA and the United States Ambassador is not as clearly defined as it was in the directive of February 7, 1947.61 However, the new wording is probably all right.
General Marshall had thought that the specific statement might be made in regard to naval matters which would be very helpful to the Chinese Government and at the same time would not probably involve us in unfortunate implications. What he had in mind was a statement such as this: “There is no objection to U. S. naval officers assisting in the instruction and training of Chinese naval crews both at sea and in port.”
- Not printed.↩