Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Far East: China, Volume VIII

893.796/4–1748: Telegram

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

Nanking, April 17, 1948—3 p.m.
[Received April 17—5:39 a.m.]

700. Following telegram 133, April 15, sent Embassy from Consulate General Tsingtao and believed not sent Department:

“Remarks made by Willauer, Vice President of CAT,¹⁴ to CAT personnel during present visit here indicates that Chennault¹⁵ contemplating formation another American volunteer group but intends first to get at least tacit agreement of State Department to this move. Willauer also stated that CAT now authorized to expand to operation 100 planes as against present 18. Local CAT area manager has been authorized employ 10 additional air crews immediately. Manager states that policy at Marine Headquarters Washington was apparently changed recently to facilitate discharge at Tsingtao of Marine Aviation personnel who accept employment with CAT; officials are believed to consider that (under control American personnel) a relatively small, balanced force of fighters and bombers backed up by a sizeable transport force would be able effect major change in course civil war. Turner.”¹⁶

Sent Department 700, repeated Shanghai 285.

Stuart

14. Civil Air Transport.
15. Maj. Gen. Claire Lee Chennault (ret.), Chairman of the Board of Civil Air Transport, Inc.
16. William T. Turner, Consul General at Tsingtao.