Evening star., 1951-06-11


gestion that o coalition govern
ment could or should be formed
in China"
On the Formosan question, Gen.
Wedemeyer said he understood
the State Department was on rec
ord In August. 1949, that For
fall to the Chinese Com
was probable He ex-
planned that only in the event
this happened did he recommend
that the Voice of America should
be used to minimize. effects of
the loss of the island in Far East
ern opinion. Already, he said,
he had suggested action in the
psychological warfare field"
The State Department has been
under repeated criticism during
the hearing for a 1949 memo
randum which said the island had
mo strategic Importance. Sec
retary Acheson said the memo
randum was sent out for informa-
tion purposes to prepare .diplo-
matte representatives abroad for
the possible fall of the island. He
added that the department had
been informed. by military leaders
that Formosa would likely be lost
to the Chinese Communists.
No Intent Of Falsification.
Military leaders have testified
that the island is strategically inn
portant to this country's Pacific
defenses.
AS for his suggestion that the
Voice Of America should be used
to minimize the effects in the Far
East of the possible fall of the
island. Gen. Wedemeyer said:
Il had no intention, gentle
men. that there should be falsi-
f1cation Of the military import OF
Formosa or of the policy pertain
ing to that strategic area"
He said that he had never re-
celved copy of the State Depart
nent's memorandum Of December
23. 1949. saying the island had
no strategic Importance.
Gen. Wedemeyer said he would
not have been 80 much con-
cerned" about the linking of his
name with this report had Secre-
tary Acheson mot resisted the eff
forts OF members Of this commit
tee to obtain the names of the
individual or individuals of the
State Department who prepared
the final policy memorandum >
Differs With Marshall Testimony
Gen. Wedemeyer, differing with
Secretary Marshall about the di-
rective for his mission to China
quoted Gen. Marshall's testimony
saying that Gen. Wedemeyel
wanted a presidential directive te
give him prestige" on his mis-
sion there.
Gen. Wedemeyer said he would
never express concern about q
position involving my prestige OF
rank" and added:
After two years close associa-
tion with the Chinese, and limitec
contacts with the Koreans, I felt
confident that I enjoyed their re-
spect and that I would receive
their friendly cooperation. Sec.
retary Marshall requested that
draft my directive. I did so anc
submitted it to him for approval
A day or so later it was returned
to me without any changes anc
over the signature of President
Truman"
Gen Wedemeyer said h,
thought a member of Gen. Mac.
Arthur's staff originated the idce
of having President Truman sigr
the directive. He said he though
also the idea Of having him go tt
China originated with Representa-
tive Judd. Republican, of Mime
sofa, who suggested the mission
to Gen. Marshall, then Secretar,
! of State.
Had Conference With Mao.
Gen. Wedemeyer told the com
mitttee that he had sent informa
ton to his superiors in Washing
ton to counteract reports tina
Communist leaders were "agrarial
reformers."
Il wanted the American peopl
ito know that at least from m
viewpoint and my personal knowl
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