893.20 Mission/2–1546
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Vincent) to the Secretary of State
There is attached a memorandum22 from the Acting Chairman of SWNCC transmitting SWNCC 83/1723 in regard to a U. S. Advisory Group to China.
The SWNCC paper contains a memorandum from the Joint Chiefs of Staff which goes far towards meeting the points raised in your memorandum of January 5, 1946. The size of the Group is reduced from around 4,000 to “an initial authorization of 750 Army personnel and 165 Naval personnel”. Although the number is larger than we had anticipated in suggesting “several hundred” as “fully adequate to [Page 821] the task” I am not disposed to question the decision, but I am concerned over the implications in the JCS paper that the Group may be further expanded. For instance there is the statement that the proposed Group “will be adequate pending further developments in the situation” and that “the ultimate size and organization of the Advisory Group can be re-examined when the pattern of political and military organization of China is more clear”.
In response to the observation in your memorandum that the Advisory Group “function only on a military staff level” the JCS state that “The contemplated activities of the Military Advisory Group envisage advice to higher staffs on organizational and training matters, assistance in the training of general and special staff groups of the Ministry of War and the Supreme Headquarters, and provisions of some training and technical assistance in the academies and service schools of the air, ground and naval forces.” This seems to me satisfactory provided there is strict avoidance of association with Chinese troops on a field or operational level.
With regard to the immunities, privileges and concessions which the Chinese Government is expected to grant, I find acceptable the explanations given in Appendix A24 to the SWNCC paper. The process of negotiating an agreement will disclose whether it is possible to obtain all that is desired.
Attached to the SWNCC paper as Appendix A [B] is a proposed directive to be issued by the President, It is the final page and I suggest you read the two brief paragraphs. I think it is all right as far as it goes but I do not think it goes far enough because there is no mention of the size of the Advisory Group. I would suggest therefore the addition of the following sentence at the end of paragraph one:
“The strength of the Advisory Group shall not exceed one thousand officers and men except as authorized by me in the light of possible future political and military developments.”
I make this suggestion, which actually is in line with the JCS memorandum, because I feel that the probable importance of the Group in our international relations is so great that any substantial increase in the presently proposed size (915 officers and men) should receive the specific sanction of the President in the light of then prevailing circumstances.
Whether the suggested addition of the foregoing sentence should be cleared informally with the Secretaries of War and Navy before the proposed directive is sent to the White House, I leave to your judgment. The JCS memorandum recommends that “the Secretary of [Page 822] State propose to the President the issuance of a directive to the Secretaries of State, War and Navy substantially as that attached as Appendix B”. The question is whether the sentence I suggest could be considered a substantial change. You might wish simply to call the two Secretaries on the telephone or speak to them at your next meeting with them if that is to be soon.
When I have received your instructions in this matter I shall prepare a memorandum for the White House and also a telegram to General Marshall in as much as the President in a telegram of February 12 (or 13) to General Marshall25 stated that “With regard to a military advisory group for China, a revised J. C. S. paper on the subject is expected soon and their recomendations will be sent to you for comment”.
If the occasion occurs soon, it might be useful to discuss this matter with the President, personally, before submitting to him the directive for signature. I consider it vitally important, as I have said, that the control over the size of the Group remain in the hands of the President, not only because of the bearing on our international relations but also because of possible Congressional interest and inquiry in regard to the size and activities of the Group.