893.20 Missions/9–847
The Chief of the Army Advisory Group in China (Lucas) to the Ambassador in China (Stuart)51
Your Excellency: In my letter to you of 28 June 194752 regarding the assessment of the character and extent of the Army Advisory Group, I discussed at length my thought regarding additional training for the Chinese Armed Forces.
Due to the vital importance of this training and after a detailed study of [SM–4992],53 I feel that advice and assistance to Division staffs on organization and training is essential and within the contemplated activities of this Group. Consequently, I plan to send Advisory Teams to such Division Training Centers as the Ministry of National Defense may establish south of Yangtze or in Formosa.
Any Division Training Centers south of the Yangtze or in Formosa would be removed from the combat zone and from Communist dominated areas, thus exempting these locations from the very general restriction imposed by General Marshall orally to members of this Group before his departure from China.
Realizing that a program of this type undertaken by this Group will lead to criticism in the press and radio from certain quarters, I intend to advise the War Department of my plans for these Advisory Teams. Prior to my communicating with the War Department, I would appreciate your comments on the political aspect or implications of this plan, so your thoughts may be forwarded to the War Department for their information.
Sincerely,
Maj. Gen., USA
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in his despatch No. 985, September 8; received about September 26.↩
- Ante, p. 860.↩
- February 13, 1946, Foreign Relations, 1946, vol. x, p. 817.↩