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269702984
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Memorandum from General George C. Marshall to President Harry S. Truman
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269702984
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Memorandum from General George C. Marshall to President Harry S. Truman
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President's Secretary's Files (Truman Administration)
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269702984
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11
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1945-08-11
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1945
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Please return
TOP SECRET OLORET
Searet. - Seey of state
Ric
E.O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or Œ
WAR DEPARTMENT
OSD letter, May 3, 1972
THE CHIEF OF STAFF
By NLT-BK NARS Date 3-21-75
WASHINGTON,D. C.
11 August 1945
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT:
Following are two messages, one from General Spaatz on Guam, Com-
mander of the Strategical Air Forces, and the other just sent by me to Gen-
eral Spaatz. I think they are self-explanatory.
From General Spaatz:
"Weather conditions during past twenty-four hours
influenced me to withhold any large scale operations under condi-
tions which now exist. Not knowing the extent to which area bomb-
ing may complicate the situation, am for the present limiting our
operations to attacks on military targets visually or under very
favorable blind bombing conditions. Unless I hear from you other-
wise, will continue this policy until it is determined whether or
not Japan offer is acceptable. It is significant that our weather
airplane over Tokio today received no antiaircraft fire. This is
unusual. II
To General Spaatz:
"Reference your message of August 11, you were quo-
ted in the press with the statement that 'The Superforts are not
flying today', which has been accepted generally as positive indi-
cation that bombing of Japan had been terminated, also that Halsey's
fleet had ceased attacks. This presents very delicate and critical
problem to the President. Resumption of bombing would appear to
indicate that preliminary negotiations had fallen through, giving
rise to a storm of publicity and confusing views. Until I can reach
the President and Secretary of War in about an hour do not dispatch
any more missions but carry out these instructions in such a manner
as absolutely to avoid any news item leaking out from Guam, Saipan
or Okinawa. Please make no further press comments of any kind until
given release from here.' "
Until I hear from you direct or from the Secretary of War, the tem-
porary stay of bombing by the Strategical Air Forces will continue. No in-
structions have been sent to General MacArthur whose operations are continu-
ing. I assume that Admiral Halsey's operations are continuing.
Copies of these messages are being sent immediately to the Secre-
tary of State and the Secretary of War.
ARCHIVES AND
RECORDS
Chief of Staff.
TOP SECRET