Executive Secretariat Files
Note by the Executive Secretary of the National Security
Council (Souers) to the Council
[Washington,] February 18, 1949.
NSC 37/4
The Current Position of the United States With Respect
to Formosa
Pursuant to NSC Action No. 179 c,77 the Secretary of State has furnished the enclosed
memorandum setting forth the views of the Department of State with respect
to specific and immediate steps which the United States should take with
respect to Formosa.
The enclosure is accordingly circulated herewith for the information of the
National Security Council and for the use of the NSC Staff in preparing a
supplementary report on Formosa in accordance with NSC Action No. 179 d
[Annex]
Memorandum by the Secretary of
State to the Executive Secretary of the National
Security Council (Souers)
[Washington,] February 18, 1949.
Subject: The Current Position of the United States with
respect to Formosa
Pursuant to the request contained in the memorandum of February 4, 1949
from the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council that the
Department of State furnish for the use of the NSC [Page 289] staff a statement of specific and
immediate steps which the United States should take with respect to
Formosa, the Department sets forth hereunder its views on this
subject.
- 1.
- The Department of State should strengthen and increase its
representation on Formosa, and to that end should immediately detail
a high-ranking officer to Taipei.
- 2.
- Upon the arrival of this high-ranking officer at Taipei, he should
approach General Chen Cheng, Governor of Formosa, along the lines
set forth in paragraph 2 of NSC 37/2 of February 3, 1949.
- 3.
- Following these representations to General Chen and the receipt of
assurances from the latter that the governing authorities on Formosa
are prepared to implement such assurances, the ranking Department of
State officer should inform General Chen that the United States
Government is prepared, under legislation approved by the Congress
and by such other means as may be feasible, to give economic support
for the economy of Formosa, designed to assist in developing and
maintaining a viable, self-supporting economy on the island.
- 4.
- Upon the receipt of appropriate assurances outlined in 3 above,
the Economic Cooperation Administration Mission to China should
proceed with arrangements for completing the pre-project engineering
surveys of the industrial projects on Formosa which will contribute
to the above-mentioned objectives and the Economic Cooperation
Administration should undertake procurement for such of these
projects as are approved after completion of the surveys.
- 5.
- The Economic Cooperation Administration should also make a study
of and submit recommendations for an over-all program of economic
assistance to Formosa.
- 6.
- In the initial stages every care should be exercised to minimize
the appearance of United States official activities on Formosa and
every effort should be made to discourage the further influx of
refugees from the mainland.
