893.20 Mission/7–1148: Telegram

[Extracts]

The Ambassador in China ( Stuart ) to the Secretary of State

1261. With the authority given me by the President to supervise and coordinate the activities of US agencies in China, I have sought to harmonize the conflicting personalities and interests of Admiral Badger, ComNavWesPac, General Barr, Chief AAG, and Admiral Thurber,62 Chief NAG. My efforts have not resulted in complete success and I feel I should bring the situation to your personal attention for such remedial action if any you may deem desirable. There is not only a conflict of personalities but also a conflicting concept of the problem.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I bring this situation to your personal attention in the belief that if the interests of the United States are not to suffer the system of unified command that worked so well during the war should be instituted immediately in the Advisory Group in China. The Army interest being the predominant one, I strongly recommend that Barr be [Page 267] made Chief of a reorganized Military Advisory Group comprised of Ground Forces, Air and Navy sections. Such reorganizations should assure coordinated effort in the Advisory Group and at the same time provide forum with representation from each service to which Badger as ComNavWesPac could submit his recommendations.63

Stuart
  1. Rear Adm. Harry R. Thurber had succeeded Rear Adm. S. S. Murray as Senior Member of the Naval Advisory Group Survey Board.
  2. Rear Adm. Francis P. Old was appointed to succeed Rear Adm. Thurber in August 1948.