393.1115/12–748
The Assistant Chief of Naval Operations
(Wooldridge)
to the Director of the Office of Far Eastern
Affairs (Butterworth)
Washington, 7 December 1948.
My Dear Mr. Butterworth: I am in receipt of
your letter of 4 December, wherein it is noted that the Department of
State is in agreement with the recommendations made by General Barr that
U. S. Army Military Police Battalion be evacuated from China with other
JUSMAG personnel. It is further noted that the other questions raised in
the Secretary of the Navy’s letter of 2 December would be the subject of
future communication from the Department of State. The Secretary of the
Navy’s inquiries which remain unanswered are:
- a.
- Whether State concurs in retention of JUSMAG Air Force
components at Shanghai, (this refers to Air Force personnel at
Kiangwan);
- b.
- Whether State concurs in substitution of comparable Marine
Forces for the JUSMAG Army and Air Force components at
Shanghai;
- c.
- State Department views as to the policy to be followed
relative to the landing of minor Marine Forces that may be
necessary to provide for the protection of U. S. Nationals and
property in connection with evacuation.
With reference to your inquiry concerning the protection and removal of
JUSMAG stores, the Department of the Army, on 2 December, issued
instructions to the Chief of JUSMAG covering the disposition of Army and
Air Force stores and equipment under the custody of that activity. The
plan for disposition of the subject stores and equipment entails no
obligation or responsibility on the part of the Navy for either its
protection or transportation.
You will appreciate that it is impracticable, at this time, to provide
even a tentative date as to “the effective completion of evacuation of
American Nationals.” A cut-off date beyond which the evacuation
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task of the Navy terminates
will, because of its significance, require governmental decision and is
therefore not one to be made by the Department of the Navy.
Enclosed herewith is a copy of Admiral Badger’s despatch which sets forth
in considerable detail his planned action in the Shanghai area with
respect to the protection and evacuation of U. S. Nationals and other
specifically designated friendly foreign nationals.
Sincerely yours,
E. T. Wooldridge
Rear Admiral, U. S. N.
[Enclosure]
The Commander of Naval Forces in the Western
Pacific (Badger) to the Chief of
Naval Operations (Denfeld)
No. 050715Z
[Tsingtao,] 5 December 1948.
The evacuation of US and other nationals from China has been
proceeding for some months and is virtually completed in North China
and in the Yangtze Valley with Shanghai now remaining as the only
important concentration of U. S. Nationals.
CTF 78 is assigned the Task of evacuating the Yangtze Valley area and
the forces present are 1 CL, 1 APA, 2 APDS, 2 LSMS, 1 LST, and
personnel assigned NavPort Fac Shanghai. Emergency Tasks. Evacuation
US Nationals from Yangtze Valley and Shanghai protection within
feasible limits against violence all feasible assistance to foreign
nationals.
Details of situation. Sufficient warning and adequate means for
evacuation all US Nationals have resulted in departure of all those
desiring to leave the Yangtze Valley except Shanghai. Navy affording
protection against violence and maintaining 1 Platoon Marines and 1
APD for Embassy at Nanking. Amphibious craft assisting in evacuation
of material of JUSMAG, Embassy and US Nationals from Nanking by
frequent trips to Shanghai. At Shanghai are about 2500 US Nationals
representing about one-half normal US population. Others evacuated
by Army and Navy transports commercial airlines and other available
means. Capacity of naval ships maintained in Shanghai sufficient to
embark all remaining US Nationals in event of emergency. Amphibious
craft maintained as ferries from loading points to ships in harbor
or lower Yangtze for transporting US or foreign nationals in case of
emergency.
JUSMAG evacuating independently with some assistance from Navy.
CTF 78 has been directed to:
- a.
- Coordinate with AmConGen Shanghai in the revision and
simplification of approved evacuation plans to meet
essential requirements
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emphasizing the importance of
initiating action prior to outbreak of widespread
violence.
- b.
- Advise US Agencies Shanghai including ECA, ESD and U. S.
Consulate to amalgamate activities for increased security of
records and activities and provide aid as necessary in the
Glenline Building and Naval annex for that purpose. Both
these properties on waterfront.
- c.
- Augment the Security of the Glenline Building and Naval
annex from forces available in ships present as situation
requires.
2. Companies of Marines with appropriate supporting units now ready
in Bayfield for movement from Tsingtao to
Shanghai to carry out Shanghai evacuation plan approved previously
by Embassy. Now awaiting release as directed your 032148Z.98
After arrival Shanghai will billet aboard Bayfield until emergency warrants employment ashore.
Commanding General JUSMAG has been advised that all commitments of
JUSMAG (except those activities essential to continued use Kiangwan
Airfield by US aircraft) in connection with evacuation civilians in
China may be discontinued on 10 December at his discretion by
notifying CTF 78 and ComNavWesPac. CTF 78 has already been directed
to cooperate all possible in the evacuation of JUSMAG personnel and
material.
Consider job well in hand.
