Office of the Historian

393.1115/2–1648: Telegram

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

Washington, March 3, 1948—3 p.m.

333. Dept in general agreement comments contained Embtel 305 Feb 16 and appreciates that one or two of points raised therein will no doubt have to be the subject of policy decision in Washington. However Dept believes that as basis for discussion in SANACC it would be desirable to have a joint plan, covering both regional and overall considerations, for protection of Amer lives and property in China in event of emergency. Therefore acting under authority of Presidential directive contained in SWNCC 349/115 you should thru Executive Office or other appropriate channel undertake preparation of such a plan as a matter of urgency which should be forwarded Dept for interdepartmental consideration here.

Repeated to Shanghai for Consul General only, 387.

Marshall
  1. Paper approved by the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee regarding the establishment of the Executive Office in the Embassy in China; see instruction No.283, March 14, 1947, to the Ambassador in China, Foreign Relations, 1947, vol. vii, p. 1429.↩