Memorandum from Secretary of Defense George Marshall to President Harry S. Truman

THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WASHINGTON 20 April 1951 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT With reference to our conversation after the Cabinet Meeting this morning and your expression of a desire to have a further release from the Defense Department, I have gone over the records in the matter with the Chiefs of Staff and find there are a good many complications to be avoided. Therefore the following release is proposed which we think covers the issue in such a manner as will not involve us in later rebuttals: " On 12 January 1951, at a time when, because the Chinese Communists had in great strength attacked the forces of the United Nations in Korea, forcing them southward and seriously jeopardizing their security, the Joint Chiefs of Staff reached certain tentative conclusions as to actions to be taken to preserve the combat effectiveness of our forces and relieve the pressure on them should this become necessary. These courses of action among many others included: Continue and intensify now an economic blockade of trade with China. 'Prepare now to impose a naval blockade of China and place it into effect as soon as our position in Korea is stabilized, or when we have evacuated Korea, and depending upon circumstances then obtaining. 'Remove now restrictions on air reconnaissance of China coastal areas and of Manchuria. : ARCHIVES "NATIONAL RECORDS SERVICE^