#5-327
To Lieutenant General Albert C. Wedemeyer
January 15, 1946 Radio No. GOLD 52. [Chungking, China]
Secret
Refer your CFB-20060:1
I am proposing to Generalissimo immediate issue of public order for
demilitarization of a certain number of divisions during next six months, stating
rather precisely the schedule. Also indicating that further demilitarization and
demobilization will follow.
How many divisions might be nominated for next six months? Rush
reply.2
Further reference your 20060: Please give me a concise statement of
matter reference Six Army incident and including your general view on
demobilization that I can quote to Generalissimo.
Document Copy Text Source: Records of the Department of State (RG 59), Lot Files, Marshall
Mission, Military Affairs, GOLD Messages, National Archives and Records Administration,
College Park, Maryland.
Document Format: Typed radio message.
1. See note 2, Marshall to Wedemeyer, January 13, 1946, Papers of George Catlett Marshall, #5323 [5: 419–20].
2. Wedemeyer replied the next day that he envisioned demobilizing sixty divisions by July
1, sixty more before the end of 1946, and fifty-five additional by July 1, 1947. This
would reduce the Chinese National Army to seventy-five divisions, the nucleus of
which would be the thirty-nine divisions trained and equipped by the United States.
After mid-1947, there would be a “progressive orderly demobilization” of Nationalist
and Communist divisions until the Chinese National Army reached five first-line U.S.style divisions (which were at least twice the size of Chinese divisions), five more in
training, and forty reserve divisions. (Foreign Relations, 1946, 9: 190–91.)
Recommended Citation: The Papers of George Catlett Marshall, ed. Larry I. Bland and Sharon
Ritenour Stevens (Lexington, Va.: The George C. Marshall Foundation, 1981– ). Electronic
version based on The Papers of George Catlett Marshall, vol. 5, “The Finest Soldier,” January 1,
1945–January 7, 1947 (Baltimore and London: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003), pp.
422–423.