795.00/10–3151: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Gifford) to the Secretary of State
2118. 1. Brit Military Intelligence has just completed study of recent aerial photographs of Yalu River Dam and has drawn conclusion that Dam is not being utilized as communications line between China and Korea, that the construction of the dam itself is such as to preclude passage of vehicular traffic; that there are no railways or serviceable roads on Manchurian approach to dam; and that the precipitate nature of the terrain is such that road construction wld be impractical. Railway bridge is shown to be some six miles down stream from dam. Study draws inference no useful military purpose wld be served in destroying dam by bombing.
2. Brit Joint Chiefs understood to be indignant over fact Morrison on own initiative and without reference to Joint Chiefs authorized Dept inform commander UN Forces, Korea in event resumption of full-scale Commie offensive bomb Yalu Dam without further reference to Brit Govt.
3. Substance para 1 above is shortly to be communicated to Dept thru Brit Emb.1