893.24/10–2147
Memorandum of Meeting Held in the Secretary’s Office, by Mr. William J. McWilliams, Executive Officer, Office of Departmental Administration
| Present: | Secretary Marshall |
| Under Secretary Lovett | |
| Mr. Kennan77 | |
| Mr. Butterworth | |
| Colonel Byroade78 | |
| Mr. Moseley79 | |
| Mr. McWilliams |
The meeting was called by the Secretary to discuss possible means of aid to China. The following programs were discussed:
[Page 900]1. The 8⅓ Group Program
After hearing reports of the status of the program from Mr. Butterworth and Colonel Byroade, the Secretary directed them to proceed with the implementation of the program. Realizing the inavailability of certain types of combat aircraft, the Secretary suggested that surplus C–46s now being held by the WAA be substituted and that Colonel Byroade take action to request that a sufficient number of these to fulfill the program be earmarked for China. The Chinese have also been advised of the availability for purchase of these C–46s and they have been urged to purchase as many as they can use.
2. The 39 Division Program
The Secretary inquired of Colonel Byroade the status of this program and stated that he had been informed that the Army considered the program completed. Colonel Byroade read a portion of a memorandum from his file which stated that the Army considered the program completed. The Secretary stated that this was a new position as far as he knew and asked Colonel Byroade to investigate and let him know what previous correspondence or decisions there might be which led to this conclusion.
3. Ammunition for the Chinese
Colonel Byroade stated that there are considerable amounts of munitions in the Marianas which are surplus to the Army’s needs. He stated that the stocks were varied and that he did not have a breakdown of them. After a discussion of the methods by which some of these stocks could be transferred to the Chinese, the Secretary asked Colonel Byroade to investigate the possibility of the Army declaring the stocks unstable and allowing the Chinese to pick them up in their own vessels.