Publication of China White Paper ¹

^1. The files of the Department do not indicate the origin of the proposal to prepare a white paper on China. Work was under way in April 1949 (026 China/4–2749). A memorandum of May 21, 1951, by the then Director of the Office of Chinese Affairs (Clubb) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Rusk) stated that John F. Melby, of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs in 1949, who was continuously associated with the project, “said that there was no formal directive regarding the White Paper and that the clearance as to its preparation was broached with the Secretary, who consulted with the President, who gave the green light for its compilation.” The project was regarded as of first priority, to be completed in one volume within a few weeks (023 China/5–2151).

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