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DECLASSIFIED
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) or (E)
OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY
OSD letter, April 12, 1974
By NLT-
<
, NARS Date
WASHINGTON, D. C.
STATE'S
OF
14 December 1949
MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
Subject: Formose
The following summarizes General MacArthur's views about
Formosa: --
It would be fatal to our littoral island defense for
Formose to fall into predatory hands. It can be denied to the
Communists with very little effort.
Formosa remains legally a part of Japan until a treaty of
peace. At Potsdam, it was agreed that Japanese areas other than
the four main islands should be assigned respectively to certain
of the Allies for control until a treaty could be made. Under
this plan Formosa was assigned to China. While it was understood
generally, although not written in the agreement, that such
assignment -- like others -- was made in the expectation that it
would be in accordance with future ownership, until there is a
treaty of peace the Nationalist Government of China is merely a
custodian representing the Allies. As such custodian, it has
certain obligations. If Formosa is threatened, it is the duty of
all the Allies to defend it. Such a defense could be made without
AND
to
country
TOP SEGRET
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"ocrText": "TOP\nDECLASSIFIED\nDEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY\nE. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) or (E)\nOFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY\nOSD letter, April 12, 1974\nBy NLT-\n<\n, NARS Date\nWASHINGTON, D. C.\nSTATE'S\nOF\n14 December 1949\nMEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE\nSubject: Formose\nThe following summarizes General MacArthur's views about\nFormosa: --\nIt would be fatal to our littoral island defense for\nFormose to fall into predatory hands. It can be denied to the\nCommunists with very little effort.\nFormosa remains legally a part of Japan until a treaty of\npeace. At Potsdam, it was agreed that Japanese areas other than\nthe four main islands should be assigned respectively to certain\nof the Allies for control until a treaty could be made. Under\nthis plan Formosa was assigned to China. While it was understood\ngenerally, although not written in the agreement, that such\nassignment -- like others -- was made in the expectation that it\nwould be in accordance with future ownership, until there is a\ntreaty of peace the Nationalist Government of China is merely a\ncustodian representing the Allies. As such custodian, it has\ncertain obligations. If Formosa is threatened, it is the duty of\nall the Allies to defend it. Such a defense could be made without\nAND\nto\ncountry\nTOP SEGRET"
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