Office of the Historian

Department of Defense files

The Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Commander in Chief Far East (Clark) and the Commander in Chief Pacific (Radford)

top secret
operational immediate
Washington, September 23, 1952—5:01 p.m.

JCS 919187. From JCS.

1.
JCS are considering possible future opns in Far East in event present negots fail to produce armistice. JCS recognize that it may [Page 528] become advisable to recommend removal of all restrictions now currently in force except:
a.
Attacks on the USSR proper.
b.
Use of atomic or CW weapons other than as now authorized.
2.
Courses of action being considered include:
a.
Amphibious, airborne, or ground offensives to increase pressure on enemy and possibly secure the waist or other areas of Korea.
b.
Air attacks on airdrome complexes.
c.
Blockade of China proper with coordinated air attacks on transp centers (refers only to Para 3, Case III below).
d.
Air attacks on comm centers in north and central China and in Manchuria.
e.
Combinations or variations of actions outlined above.
3.
CINCFE comments, coordinated with CINCPAC as appropriate, are desired on courses of action outlined above under folg three alternative assumptions as to force availability:
  • Case I. Forces now available to CINCFE for use in Korea.
  • Case II. All forces presently under CINCFE Command.
  • Case III. Same as Case II augmented (not before Spring 1953) as follows:
    (a)
    Ground forces: 82d Airborne Div and an addl Marine Div with its Marine Air Wing, plus addl ROK forces (2 Divs and 6 Rgts) as outlined in ur C 50459 and CX 50698.1
    (b)
    Air Force forces: Two MB Wings now on standby, 3 Fighter-Bomber Wings, and sufficient troop carrier aircraft to provide required airlift.
    (c)
    Naval forces: Two carriers, 1 battleship, 5 cruisers, 41 destroyers, 1/3 Div amphibious lift (distribution of Naval forces between CINCFE and CINCPAC for course of action in Para 2c above to be determined later).
  1. These telegrams, dated June 19 and 23, 1952, respectively, are not printed.↩