893.50 Recovery/4–748: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Acting Secretary of State88
[Received April 7—3:47 p.m.]
Martel 28. Reference the draft report to the National Security Council dated March 26 on “The position of the United States [Page 53] regarding short-term assistance to China”, I favor the stand of the State Department and NSRB members. I consider the military view indefinite as to what is meant by “limited military aid”. Apparently the adoption of such policy would inevitably involve us in the drain referred to in the opposite statement of view.
However, I do think there is a possibility for the Naval Mission to give more direct assistance than at present, by personally supervising command and operating procedures on ships and smaller craft. This could probably be done without the multitude of involvements flowing from intimate relationships with command in field forces engaged in active operations.
It is my view that there are many things the Military Missions can do, such as the example I have just cited which would be in the form of limited military assistance but would not involve us in the dangers listed in the subject paper.
Paragraph 8, (d) as submitted by the State Department and NSRB members is a succinct statement of my position. I should think that before further discussions with the defense establishment are conducted, they should be asked to define clearly, specifically and within reasonable limits, exactly what they mean on a logistical and manpower basis by “limited military assistance.”
- The Secretary of State was attending the Ninth International Conference of American States at Bogotá.↩