Evening star., 1951-04-11
White House Backs Up Decision
With Macarthur Documents

s&HM AYh&MS &b8G
AS background in connection
with the removal of Gen. Mac
Arthur, the White House made
public the following documents:
I. A copy Of the presidential
directive of December So ordering
State Department clearance for
all foreign policy statements.
II. Communication from the
Joint Chiefs of Staff to Gen. Mac
Arthur on March 20, advising
that major advance beyond 38th
parallel should await further
!; diplomatic efforts toward settle
snent Of Korean war.
III. Copy of Gen. MacArthur's
statement of March Is, proposing
to discuss truce with the Com
munist commander in the field.
w. New directive to Gen. Mac
Arthur from Joint Chiefs. calling
attention to December order on
State Department clearance for
policy statements.
v. Communication from Joint
Chiefs to Gen. Macarthur on the
subject of arming additional ROk
manpower.
VI. Reply from Gen. Mac
Arthur questioning advisability OF
building up ROK forces.
VII. The Macarthur letter to
Representative Martin, Repub-
lican, of Massachusetts, which
touched off the explosion.
The texts follow:
December 6, 1850.
From Joint Chiefs of Staff to
Commander = in Chief, Far East,
Toyko, Japan (and other Com
manders):
1. The President, as of Dec s..
forwarded a memo to all cabinet
n1brs and to the chmn NSRB, Ad-
ministrator ECA, Dir CIA, Admin
istrator ESA and Dir Selective
Service, which reads as follows:
I'm the light of the present cri-
tical international situation, and
until further written notice from
me. I wish that each one Of you
would take immediate steps to re-
duce the number of public speeches
pertaining to foreign or military
policy made by officials of the de-
partmentS and agencies of the
executive branch. This applies to
officials in the field as well as those
In Washington.
''No speech, press release, or other
public statement concerning for
eign policy should be released until
it has received clearance from the
Department of State.
mo speech, press release, or other
public statement concerning mill
tary policy shall be released until it
has received clearance from the
Department Of Defense.
Copies to White House.
I'm addition to the copies sub
mitted to the Departments of State
or Defense for clearance, advance
copies of speeches and press releases
concerning foreign policy or mill
tary policy should be submitted to
the White House for information.
"The purpose of this memorandum
is not to curtail the flow of informa-
ton to the American people, but
rather to insure that the informa-
ton made public is accurate and
fully in accord with the policies OF
the United States Government.
2. He also forwarded the the fol-
lowing to the Sec State and Sec Def:
I'm addition to the policy ex-
pressed in my memorandum of this
date to the heads of departments,
concerning the clearance of speeches
and statements, I wish the follow
ing steps to be taken:
"Oficials overseas, including mill
tary commanders and diplomatic
representatives, should be ordered
to exercise extreme caution in pub
lie statements, to clear all but
routine statements with their de-
partments, and to refrain from direct
communication on military or for
eign policy with newspapers, maga-
zines, or other publicity media in
the United States"
g. The above is transmitted to you
for guidance and appropriate action.
II.
March 20. 1851.
To: Commander in Chief, Far
East, Tokyo, Japan
From Joint Chiefs Of Staff
State planning Presidential an
nouncement shortly that, with clear
ing of bulk of South Korea OF
aggressors, United Nations now pre-
pared to discuss conditions of settle
ment in Korea. Strong UN feeling
persists that further diplomatic ef-
fort toward settlement should be
made before any advance with
major forces north of 38th parallel.
Time will be required to determine
diplomatic reactions and permit
new negotiations that may develop.
Recognizing that parallel has no
military significance, State has
ask jos what authority you should
have to permit sufficient freedom
of action for next few weeks to
provide security for UN forces and
maintain contact with enemy. Your
recommendations desired.
Text of General MacArthur's
Korea Statement IN. Y. Times,
March, rs, 1851.
Operations continue according to
schedule and plan. We have now
substantially cleared South Korea
of organized Communist forces. II
is becoming increasingly evident
that the heavy destruction alons
the enemy's lines Of supply, caused
by our 'round-the-clock massive all
and naval bombardment, has lefi
his troops in the forward battle
area deficient in requirements tt
x,,stain his oneratiOnS,