Office of the Historian

795.00/7–750: Telegram

The Acting Political Adviser in Japan (Sebald) to the Secretary of State

secret
Tokyo, July 7, 1950—5 p. m.

54. Eyes only for Secretary and Rusk. Reference aide-mémoire to Chinese Ambassador, Washington quoted in JCS telegram 30846 of 3 July.1 MacArthur advised me that he fully explained to General Ho Shai-lai, chief of Chinese mission Tokyo, his concepts concerning Chinese offer with aim of having General Ho personally explain MacArthur’s views to Chiang Kai-shek. Ho proceeds to Taiwan 7 July.

MacArthur advised Ho as follows:

(a)
He fully concurs with Washington view that defense of Taiwan should not be weakened at present.
(b)
In view of breathing space which interposition of American naval forces affords to forces on Formosa, intervening time should be spent in augmenting strength logistics and readiness of Nationalist forces to meet any contingency.
(c)
Since Nationalist army offered for Korea without artillery, transport, logistic support and short of ammunition, it would not be effective force on Korean front under present conditions.
(d)
While discussions suggested in aide-mémoire of 1 July are not practical at present, MacArthur plans visit Taiwan at first available opportunity to investigate situation first hand.2

Foregoing information for Department only and for possible use instructing missions which have expressed concern regarding Chinese offer.

Sebald
  1. Telegram not printed. The aide-mémoire, dated July 1, is summarized in vol. vii, p. 276. In it, the Department of State declined the Republic of China’s offer of troops for use in Korea in view of the threat of a Communist invasion of Taiwan. (795B.5/6–2950)↩

  2. The discussions referred to were to be concerned with military plans for defense of Taiwan against invasion. On July 7, Mr. Rusk addressed a letter to Major General Burns on the question of coordination of United States and Chinese plans for the defense of Formosa, the last paragraph of which reads:

    “Some question has been raised as to whether General MacArthur should not himself conduct an overall political, economic and military survey of Formosa as a basis for recommendations to this Government on general policy toward Formosa. We understand a proposal along this line was made by General Mac-Arthur to the Secretary of Defense during the latter’s visit to Tokyo. We have assumed that if the Secretary of Defense wishes to raise this more comprehensive proposal, that he would do so by discussions with the Department of State or in the National Security Council. In any event, the Aide-Mémoire to the Chinese Government on the use of Chinese forces in Korea was not intended by us as approval of the broader proposal which has not been officially brought to our attention.” (795B.5/7–750)

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