206. Memorandum on the Substance of Discussions at a Department of State–Joint Chiefs of Staff Meeting, Washington, August 31, 1956, 11:30 a.m.1
[Here follows a list of 25 persons present, including Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Radford, General Taylor, and Admiral Arleigh A. Burke. Assistant Secretary Gray and General Fox represented the Department of Defense. The Department of State delegation included Deputy Under Secretary Murphy and Assistant Secretary Robertson. Cabell and Wisner attended the meeting for the CIA and S. Everett Gleason for the NSC. The first items discussed were 1, “French Military Effort in Viet Nam” and 2, “The Suez Situation”.]
3. MAAG Advisers on the Chinese Off-Shore Islands
Mr. Robertson pointed out that President Chiang and other Chinese Government leaders have been greatly perturbed over reports that the United States may be planning to withdraw its MAAG advisers from the off-shore islands. Admiral Radford explained that the Chinese troops on the islands are now fully trained and no longer need MAAG advisers for instruction purposes. The Pentagon is anxious [Page 426] to cut MAAG expenses, and the idea had been to have a gradual attrition of the advisers stationed on the off-shore islands. The main problem from the U.S. point of view is that we would lose our independent communications facilities. He agreed that it would perhaps be best to plan for a reduced number of advisers rather than to withdraw the entire group. A small group could be left on the islands, possibly for communications purposes entirely. Mr. Murphy suggested that consideration be given to the issuance of a press release which would make it clear that the United States is not withdrawing its forces from the islands.
[Here follows discussion on items 4, “Japanese Labor Relationships of U.S. Armed Forces” and 5, “Austrian Force Levels”.]
6. Plane Incident off the China Coast
There was discussion regarding salvage operations with respect to the Navy plane shot down last week by the Chinese Communists. Mr. Robertson mentioned that he had discussed the situation with the Secretary and that the Secretary was not clear in his own mind regarding our legal position with respect to salvage operations on the floor of the sea, as distinct from surface operations to which the traditional three mile limit would apply. The Secretary thought the President should know of the problem and that his views should be ascertained. Admiral Radford pointed out that underwater devices to locate the plane wreckage were on the way to the scene in international waters but that the wreckage itself has not yet been located. Therefore, the question of salvage has not yet arisen. The Navy has the problem of protecting the security of certain equipment which was on board the plane and a major reason for our forces remaining in the area is for the purpose of preventing the Chinese Communists from finding the wreckage and removing it. He stressed that all that was needed now was State Department clearance for the surface search. Once the wreckage was located the problem of salvage operations could be faced.
There was some further discussion regarding a press release to be issued the afternoon of August 31 regarding the plane incident.2
- Source: Department of State, State–JCS Meetings: Lot 61 D 417. Top Secret. A note on the title page reads: “State Draft. Not cleared with any of participants”. Drafted by the Deputy Under Secretary’s Special Assistant, W. Tapley Bennett.↩
- See Document 204.↩