Office of the Historian

893.24/3–1148: Telegram

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

Nanking, March 11, 1948—11 a.m.
[Received March 11—3:22 a.m.]

445. For Butterworth from Clark. In casual conversation Admiral Badger ComNavWesPac70 indicated willingness and ability to make available to China urgently needed ammunition landed China’s stockpile, say Shanghai, from sources within his command making replacements from trans-Pacific pipeline. Specifically he suggests possibility loading US ammunition located Philippines on inter-island vessel for shipment China theater and declaring it surplus en route thus making it available to China on arrival China port.

Suggest you may wish canvass this possibility with Navy Department. Badger has agreed this approach and will welcome inquiry from Navy. [Clark.]

Stuart
  1. Vice Adm. Oscar C. Badger, Commander, U. S. Naval Forces, Western Pacific.↩