Office of the Historian

Executive Secretariat Files: NSC 81/2

Memorandum by the National Security Council Staff1

top secret
[Washington, November 14, 1950.]

Draft

interim report by the national security council on united states courses of action with respect to korea

1. The National Security Council has reviewed the situation created by the intervention of Chinese Communist forces in Korea. It has had an opportunity to consider National Intelligence Estimate No. 22 and the views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff circulated to the Council on November 10, 1950.3

2. It is of the utmost importance that the real intentions of the Chinese Communists be ascertained as soon as possible. To that end, the National Security Council recommends to the President the following courses of action pending the completion, as a matter of urgency of a Senior NSC Staff Study of the alternative courses of action open to the United States:

a.
Continue military operations in accordance with current directives.
b.
Intensify covert actions to determine Chinese Communist intentions.
c.
Political action should be continued in the United Nations to insure that a solid and overwhelming majority of Members demand the prompt withdrawal of Chinese forces now intervening unlawfully in Korea and support the implementation of the resolution of the General Assembly of October 7, 1950.
d.
Other available political channels should be used to ascertain Chinese Communist intentions and, in particular, to determine whether there is any basis for arrangements which might stabilize Sino-Korean frontier problems on a satisfactory basis.
e.
The missions assigned to the Commander in Chief, United Nations Command, should be kept under review, but should not be changed for the present.

3. The United States should meanwhile develop its plans and make its preparations on the basis that the risk of global war is increased.

  1. This memorandum was prepared in accordance with NSC Action No. 378 taken at the 71st NSC meeting on November 9 and was circulated by the Executive Secretary of the NSC for its consideration. For further, action, see the memorandum by Mr. Lay dated November 30, p. 1262.↩
  2. November 8, p. 1101.↩
  3. See the memorandum by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, dated November 9, p. 1117, and footnote 4 thereto.↩