12. Telegram From the Embassy in the Republic of China to the Department of State 0

926. Commander USTDC/MAAG now preparing letter to Minister National Defense seeking GRC–US agreement on details of policy governing employment of MAP supported 3,000-man GRC special forces.1 Action complements that taken by Embassy October 28, 1957 pursuant Deptel 2642 informing Foreign Ministry as to restrictions on use special forces.

Embassy understands Under Secretary Herter letter February 11, 1958, where it speaks of “training of additional paratroopers”, intended as response to that part of President Chiang’s proposal relating to training of 10,000 Chinese in basic parachute use and does not imply approval additional special forces over and above 3,000 already authorized. Please clarify.3

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As point information, Embassy understands neither Chief, MAAG, nor Commander TDC has received instructions to consult with Chinese military authorities as proposed in Herter letter. Nor has GRC taken initiative with MAAG or TDC.4

Drumright
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 793.5/5–1058. Secret; Limit Distribution. Passed to CINCPAC/POLAD.
  2. The letter from Vice Admiral A.K. Doyle to Defense Minister Yu, May 28, stated, inter alia, that U.S. support of the program was predicated upon the understanding that use of the Special Forces was subject to the same considerations as those applicable to the use of other Chinese forces. (Ibid., 793.5/6–658; see Supplement) Chief of General Staff General Wang Shu-ming concurred in a September 9 letter to Doyle’s successor, Vice Admiral Roland N. Smoot, and a September 25 letter to Major General L.L. Doan, Chief of the Military Assistance Advisory Group; copies were enclosed with despatch 168 from Taipei, October 3. (Department of State, Central Files, 793.5/10–358)
  3. See Foreign Relations, 1955–1957, vol. III, p. 633, footnote 4.
  4. Telegram 721 to Taipei, May 14, confirmed the Embassy’s interpretation. (Department of State, Central Files, 793.5/5–1058)
  5. Foreign Minister Yeh asked Drumright on June 7 whether the United States had agreed to train special forces in addition to the 3,000 under training. Drumright replied in the negative but said the United States would consider training additional men if it could be done within the limits of the existing military assistance program. The memorandum of conversation was transmitted with despatch 747 from Taipei, June 9. (Ibid., 793.5/6–958)