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    "localId": "205716199",
    "label": "Correspondence Between Secretary of Defense James Forrestal and President Harry S. Truman",
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    "id": "205716199",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "Correspondence Between Secretary of Defense James Forrestal and President Harry S. Truman",
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        {
            "logicalDate": "1946-01-01",
            "year": 1946
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{
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    "pageIndex": 0,
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    "ocrText": "AUC 15%6 PM\nchanin\nTHE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY\nSerial: 00012P03\n(SC) A16-3\nWASHINGTON\n9 0 x\nTOP SECRET\nRECEIVED\n15 AUG 1946\nTOR\nMy dear Mr. President:\nThe Navy Department has become concerned because of the degree\nto which the marines in China have been dispersed and extended,\nthereby making it possible for the communist elements to ambush\nand overpower small detachments of marines. There have been several\nevidences of a change in attitude on the part of communist leaders\ninvolving a tendency to challenge the authority of the marines and\nto condone attacks on them.\nAdmiral Cooke, the Commander Seventh Fleet, has with my con-\ncurrence been directed by the Chief of Naval Operations to make\narrangements with General Marshall which will conform as closely\nas practicable with the views of the Chief of Naval Operations,\nwhich are\n(a) The marine forces in China are the maxinum that can be\nmaintained under the requirements of demobilization and economy as\nimposed by higher authority;\n(b) The small outposts now maintained by marines should be\ntaken over by Chinese nationalist troops;\n(c) Marines should be concentrated in important positions in\na manner which will minimize the possibility of having small detach-\nments overpowered before effective support can arrive.\nIt is my belief, and I understand that the State Department\nconcurs, that it is undesirable to continue to accept the risk of\nfurther incidents in which marines on detached duty are killed or\ncaptured and which may involve vigorous counter-action by the marines\nwhich can not fail to be harmful to General Marshall's efforts in\nChina.\n(RUNAN\nSincerely yours,\ngames tonestal\nThe President,\nDECLASSIFIED\nThe White House.\nE. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) or (E)\nOSD letter, April 12, 1974\nBy NLT- He NARS Date 6.24.75"
}