893.24/3–248

The Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Butterworth) to the Director of Plans and Operations of the Army General Staff (Wedemeyer)

My Dear General Wedemeyer: Reference is made to my letter of December 16, 194764 in regard to arrangements for the transfer to China of surplus ammunition located in the Marianas, and to the Secretary of the Army’s top secret letter of February 24, 1948 in regard to additional stocks of surplus ammunition located in various [Page 29] bases in the Pacific. As indicated in the Secretary of State’s letter of March 1, 1948 the Department of State is taking steps to facilitate the sale of this ammunition to China. Arrangements should now be consummated by the Department of the Army to effect the transfer to China of the stocks referred to in Secretary Royall’s letter of February 24, 1948.

This authorization should likewise be considered as covering any additional stocks which may be declared surplus in these bases or other bases in the Pacific.

The OFLC on December 16, 1947 was authorized to accept for transfer to China surplus stocks in foreign areas and the Zone of the Interior, including Hawaii.

Sincerely yours,

W. Walton Butterworth
  1. Missing from Department files.