795.00/8–3050
Memorandum of a Teletype Conference, Prepared by the Department of the Army1
Nr: DA TT 3708.
Subject: Far East Situation
| present washington | present tokyo | ||
| Maj Gen A R Boiling | G2 | Maj Gen C A Willoughby | G2 |
| Col R W Hayward USMC | ONI | Col E H F Svensson | G2 |
| USMC | Lt Col W A Hampton | G1 | |
| Col Mark Devine | G2 | Lt Col R C Cassibry | G2 |
| Col A G Stone | Gl | Lt Col J A Berry Jr | G3 |
| Mr Fisher Howe | State | Maj R H Anderson | G4 |
| Mr R H Ingersoll | State | Maj R E Freeze | ADI FEAF |
| Col H B Hull | AFOIE | Lt (USN) J L Wohler | |
| Lt Col M F Gilchrist | G3 | AFIO NAVFE | |
| Cdr C H Mead | JIG | ||
| Cdr S L Smith | CIA | ||
| Lt Col H W Buchanan | G2 | ||
| Lt Col C E McHenry | G4 | ||
| Maj T B Strother | G2 | ||
| Mai L A Turk | JIG | ||
| Lt H M Rolph | ONI |
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chinese Communist reinforcements:2
Over a considerable pd info from Fru[?], Formosa, and FEC covert sources have reported troop movements from Central China to Manchuria for sometime, which suggest movements preliminary to entering the Korean theatre. As regards troop str, the physical potential of Chinese Communist reinf is evident. Total Communist regular forces, at present in Manchuria, are est to be aprx 246,000 comprising nine armies of 37 divs (aggregate str 6,000 each.) 80,000 have been variously reported in the vic of Antung, in varying stages of assembly. Many Koreans have served in these Manchurian units. Prior to the invasion, ethnic Koreans were combed out of Chinese Communist forces and released to the North Korean Govt in nbrs varying from 40,000–80,000. Further reinf through that channel are therefore not [Page 660] to be discounted. On the other hand, this action probably would precipitate further Russian participation directly or indirectly/Consequently, it is believed that infiltration might take place but no organized participation with div or corps units. Air technical personnel in small nbrs have been described as Chinese and have been picked up in Seoul and Kunsan, and there is a possibility that air reinf may be flown in, since the Formosan invasion appears to be postponed and some Chinese air contingents, with Russian equip, could be employed elsewhere. After all, the precedent of furnishing grd and air support to South Korea by the US has been established and there is no legalistic obstacle for Manchuria to assist its neighbor, the North Koreans. In this connection, the recent broadcast from Mukden accusing American planes of violating the Manchurian border3 conceivably can be the legalistic basis for air intervention. Finally, the recent preparation of revetments of fwd fids, below the 38th Parallel, on which 43 revetments have been constructed, indicates the expected fwd movement of acft in spite of the depletion of the present NK Air Forces.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- The source text is taken from a copy in Korean Conflict.↩
- The portion of the document herein printed represents a response from Tokyo to a question from Washington on the enemy situation in Korea.↩
- For documentation on this subject, see vol. vi, pp. 256 ff.↩