Office of the Historian

140. Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Stump) to the Chief of Naval Operations (Carney)1

Honolulu, January 28, 1956—2:15 p.m.

290015Z. COMPACAF 232345Z2 and my 272225Z3 both PASEP. The addition of this unit to the defenses of Taiwan would [Page 284] undoubtedly give a big boost to the morale of the Chinats on the basis of its power alone. An additional and important factor would be the added participation of the US in the defense of Taiwan exemplified by the establishment of such a US unit on the island. However in addition to the points made in my 272225Z is the ever growing US military population in Taiwan. There are too many Americans there now as emphasized by Ambassador Rankin and Adm Radford and as observed by myself and VAdm Pride. The high standard of living of low level American military families is in marked contrast to the low living standards of many high level Chinese. There is growing evidence of Chinese resentment of both the number and living standards of Americans. This reaction is natural and normal and not alarming but it is still unfortunate. I am studying means of limiting the further growth and if possible reducing and centralizing control of the US military population in Taiwan. Of primary concern to me is the increase of US operational units on Taiwan for the defense of Taiwan over which the commander Taiwan defense command has no control. This is basically and fundamentally unsound and should be resolved before any more operational units are established. Taipei [685] 26 Jan 8 pm passed to Defense and CINCPAC by State4 bears on this msg.

  1. Source: JCS Records, 381 Formosa (11–8–48) Sec. 32. Top Secret.↩
  2. Telegram 232345Z from COMPACAF to CINCPAC, January 23, presented a proposal to deploy to Taiwan one flight of a tactical missile squadron equipped with TM–61C (Matador) missiles, which the Far East Air Force was to receive in fiscal year 1957. (Ibid.)↩
  3. Telegram 272225Z from CINCPAC to COMPACAF, January 27, stated that JCS approval was necessary prior to CINCPAC concurrence and raised several points for consideration. (Ibid.)↩
  4. Supra.↩