Memorandum of Information from J. H. Burns for the Secretary of Defense, with Related Material

OF OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WASHINGTON 25, D. C. content / 3 STATES OF (SECDEF HAS SEEN) 6 July 1950 MEMORANDUM OF INFORMATION FOR THE SECRETARY SUBJECT: Blockade of Korea Pursuant to the President's statement, a warning has been broadcast to all ships of the blockade of the Korean coast. State is notifying the other governments. Actually because : (a) We do not have sufficient forces available and (b) We wish to stay well clear of Russian and Manchurian waters; our forces are operating south of 41° north along the east coast and south of 39° 30" north along the west coast. This leaves us with a "paper blockade" of the northern part of the Korean coast. This is, of course, our own closely-held operational information and would have to be proved by any country seeking to question the legality of our blockade. "NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORD& JHB SERVICE" J. H. Burns DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 11-1-at Dept. of Seate letter. By MLY NC , WARS 12.5.7 NIT 17-46 TOP SLORE