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

893.24/12–2347

The Department of State to the Chinese Embassy

Memorandum

Responsive to the Chinese Embassy’s memoranda of November 4, 1947 and December 23, 1947⁶⁵ with which were transmitted lists of military supplies urgently needed by the Chinese Government, the Department of State encloses three lists prepared by the Department of the Army⁶⁶ indicative of the amount and type of ammunition in Hawaii and the Pacific now available for purchase by the Chinese Government through surplus channels. It should be understood that a portion of this ammunition may upon inspection prove to be unserviceable or unstable and that the final tonnages available for purchase by the Chinese Government may thus be considerably less than those listed in the attached enclosures.

It is learned that there are additional quantities of surplus ammunition located in Okinawa. A preliminary survey indicates that these stocks may total approximately 27,500 tons. The Chinese Government will be furnished figures on tonnages and types of this ammunition as soon as available.

There is also enclosed a list⁶⁷ of the surplus ammunition at Saipan which was transferred to the Chinese Government under the contract of January 7, 1948.

Washington, March 4, 1948.

65. Foreign Relations, 1947, vol. vii, pp. 913 and 934, respectively.
66. None printed.
67. Not printed.