795.00/10–350
Memorandum by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Merchant) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs (Rusk)
secret
[Washington,] October 3, 1950—10:30 a. m.
The present status regarding London’s 1934 of October 3 follows:
- 1.
- At the Department’s request this message was relayed to General MacArthur for information by the Department of Defense at 8:30 this morning. Captain Murdaugh is calling it to the urgent attention of the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- 2.
- Our Watch Officer repeated it to GA Del.
- 3.
- S/S is sending it to the President in his noon batch of important telegrams.
- 4.
- I have drafted a short Niact telegram to Loy Henderson asking for any further details and instructing him to point out to Bajpai the “inadmissible” character of the Chinese Communist threat.1
- 5.
- Park Armstrong arranged early this morning for an urgent query to Tokyo regarding this morning’s AP radio report of a 100-mile column, including artillery, stretching from Manchuria across the Yalu River into North Korea. The Telecon this morning has nothing on this point.
- 6.
- The telegram was discussed at Mr. Webb’s 9:30 meeting which I
attended. I expressed my belief that we should treat it with extreme
seriousness and not discount it as a bluff. I also expressed concern
over the lack of clarity in General MacArthur’s outstanding orders in
the present circumstances. My impression is that the majority present
were inclined to regard it as a bluff pending more information. It was
agreed that:
- (a)
- Before sending an evaluation of the report to the President, we should await confirmation from New Delhi and further information concerning the radio troop column report.
- (b)
- This development should be urgently discussed in New York with the principal other Delegations concerned. I understand Doc2 will discuss this with Jack Hickerson.
- (c)
- This development should be urgently discussed at a high level with the Pentagon, which Doc will institute via the established General Burns channel.