Department of Defense Files: Telegram
The Commander in Chief of United States Forces in the Far East ( MacArthur ) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
priority
C 52713. Reference DA 80222.1 There is no question as to the vulnerability of Hokkaido to Soviet amphibious and/or airborne attack nor as to the availability of USSR forces for such operations. The Department is in better position to evaluate Soviet intentions with respect to Hokkaido from studies of global intelligence than is this theater. So far as our intelligence reports, there is no local indication of Soviet special preparation to attack Hokkaido. Such an attack would undoubtedly precipitate a global war. It does not appear possible that the presence of Mr. Dulles in Japan could have the slightest effect upon Soviet decisions to initiate such a war.
[Page 781]The situation in Korea at present obviously would not permit the withdrawal of any elements of our forces there without endangering that part of the command which remained under present commitment. My concern for the security of Japan resulted in my considered recommendation as stated in C–515592 that the four national guard divisions now on active duty should be promptly deployed to Japan for completion of their projected training and to provide emergency protection.
The desirability of a Japanese peace treaty from both a military and political stand point is of such urgency that all practical measures should be taken without delay to negotiate such an agreement. However, it might be prudent to accept a delay in Mr. Dulles’ arrival if reinforcements are to be moved from the ZI to Japan in six weeks, the possibility of which is suggested in your reference message.
- Supra.↩
- Not printed, but see memorandum dated December 21, 1950, Foreign Relations, 1950, vol. vii, p. 1588.↩