810.20 Defense/11–147
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Chinese Affairs (Ringwalt) to the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Butterworth)
Bills to provide military advice and assistance to the Republic of China were introduced in the 79th Congress as S 23377 and HR 6795.8 Not being acted upon, these bills died with the termination of the 79th Congress. In November 1946 General Marshall, then in China, requested [Page 933] that similar legislation be prepared but concurred with the Department’s recommendation that its introduction into the 80th Congress be withheld until the time should be propitious to submit it. The bill was not introduced into the first session of the 80th Congress.
Mr. Forrestal in his letter of November 1, 19479 suggested that, if this Department considered it desirable to submit the proposed legislation, the National Military Establishment be afforded an opportunity to propose certain minor revisions in the wording of the bill as now drafted. The Department in its reply9 indicated that many of the provisions of this bill were substantially covered by other legislation which would be introduced, and suggested therefore that we await Congressional reaction to these other bills before requesting legislation specifically providing for military assistance to China.
It has now been learned from recent conversations between officers of the Army and of this Department that the Army feels it is the responsibility of the State Department to take the initiative in determining the appropriate time for the introduction of the China bill.
It would appear politically unwise in view of the pressure for aid to China for this Department to give the appearance of desiring to delay action on the bill, although as noted above there is in actuality little difference between the activities which would be authorized by this bill and the activities which would be authorized by legislation which the Department is already sponsoring. If you agree, it is suggested that we inform the Department of the Army that it might undertake a preliminary review of the draft bill so that should the Secretary wish to reintroduce the bill, the spade work on it will be done.
It is recommended that, although the Department of State take the initiative in the introduction of the bill, the Department of the Army be primarily responsible for the justification of its detailed provisions.