793.56/5–650
The Secretary of Defense (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: Pending a review of the United States military position with regard to Formosa in light of the recent international developments in the Far East, I wish to reserve comment on the provisions of your letters of 7 March and 14 April in furtherance to my inquiry of 14 February1 concerning the United States policy in administering Public Law 512, 79th Congress, Public Law 472, 80th Congress, and Executive Order 9843 in connection with the transfer of equipment to the Chinese Nationalist Government.
As soon as the above-mentioned study is completed, I shall advise you of my views. In furtherance to our exchange of correspondence on this subject, I have advised the appropriate agencies within the Department of Defense that as an interim measure the provision of military assistance to the Chinese should be in accordance with the following:
- a.
- Assistance may be continued, except for jet aircraft and medium and heavy tanks, on those orders currently in the process of procurement or delivery as of 14 April from the obligated but unexpended funds authorized under Public Law 472, if such transactions are considered desirable by the Department of Defense in the light of applicable military criteria.
- b.
- Transactions which were requested or pending under Public Law 512 prior to 5 January 1950 may be completed, if such transactions are considered desirable by the Department of Defense in the light of applicable military criteria.
Sincerely yours,
- Not printed.↩