Office of the Historian

711.93/3–1047

The Secretary of State to President Truman

Washington, March 3, 1947.

Subject: Supervision and Coordination of Basic Policies Governing American Activities in China.

The State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee has reviewed the situation in China and has agreed that the over-all supervision and coordination of basic policies governing official American activities in China heretofore exercised by me while Special Envoy to China should be continued. The Committee considers this action necessary to insure that all American agencies, political, military, and economic, act in complete harmony with our policy toward China, the protection und implementation of which the Committee regards as of foremost importance. Since the political effort predominates, the Committee considers that the responsibility for over-all policy supervision and coordination should be vested in the Ambassador.

I concur in the views of the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee and submit the enclosure for your approval.1

G. C. Marshall
[Annex]

Draft Presidential Directive

In order to insure complete and consistent implementation of our policy toward China, I authorize the Ambassador to China to exercise over-all supervision and coordination of basic policies governing all official American activities in China, including political, military, and economic. To assist in discharging this responsibility with respect to military activities, the Embassy is authorized to establish a small Executive Office, consisting of Embassy, Army, and Navy personnel. The establishment of this Executive Office will in no way interfere with the [Page 1429] normal functioning of the Embassy. The War and Navy Departments are authorized to detail appropriate personnel to serve in this office.

In the event that major differences arise over policy matters within China, the Ambassador will submit the necessary reports and recommendations to the State Department for resolution among Departments concerned.

  1. Marginal notation: “Approved. Harry S. Truman.”↩