Office of the Historian

Department of Defense Files: Telegram

The Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Commander in Chief, Far East (MacArthur)

top secret
operational immediate
Washington, October 9, 1950—5:05 p. m.

JCS 93709. From JCS for MacArthur. In light of the possible intervention of Chinese Communist forces in North Korea the foil amplification of our directive, incorporated in JCS 92801,1 is forwarded for your guidance:

“Hereafter in the event of the open or covert employment anywhere in Korea of major Chinese Communist units, without prior announcement, you should continue the action as long as, in your judgment, action by forces now under your control offers a reasonable chance of success. In any case you will obtain authorization from Washington prior to taking any military action against objectives in Chinese territory”.

  1. See footnote 2 to the letter from Secretary of Defense Marshall to the President, dated September 27, p. 793.↩