What did the declassified documents reveal?

From Storyflo, this is Declassified. Today, we examine a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record from August twenty-third, nineteen-forty-nine, concerning intelligence on a proposed Japanese Foreign Legion in China. This document was retrieved from the Black Vault archive at archive.org. This memorandum was released under the Freedom of Information Act and reviewed by the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel, or I-S-C-A-P, for declassification. Its release date is redacted. The document opens: "Although action on the attached radio is being taken by the A-F-F-E Section, it is believed that the following comments will be of interest in view of numerous reports received pertaining to this subject. a. In recent weeks, especially since the accession of Marshall YEN Hsi-shan to the Premiership in early June, frequent reports have been received concerning the proposed recruitment of Japanese for a Nationalist "Foreign Legion" in China and to serve with the Nationalist Air Force. Although the sources of most of this information have been Chinese press releases or C-C-D mail intercepts, an official report from SANA, Nanking, twenty-nine July, states that the Nationalist Cabinet on twenty-three July authorized enlistment of U.S., Japanese, and other foreigners in a Chinese "Foreign Legion." The Attache doubted the ability of the Nationalists to pay for such a plan. (Intelligence Summary: Two-five-one-nine). b. A recent official report (B-three) from [one line redacted] states that Premier YEN is considering sending former Defense Minister HO Ying-chin to Japan to gain support of former Japanese generals who were classmates of YEN and HO in the Tokyo Military Academy in an attempt to enlist the services of Japanese soldiers for the Nationalist Army. (Intelligence Summary: Two-five-three-zero). c. The information contained in subject radio also is covered in Intelligence Summary Two-five-three-zero. d. It is entirely possible that Premier YEN Hsi-shan would attempt to enlist the services of Japanese military personnel as he did in Shansi Province immediately after World War Two. At that time he had approximately six thousand five hundred Japanese soldiers in his provincial army, including four Japanese generals. Most top military leaders in the Nationalist Government are graduates of Japanese military academies. They no doubt realize the fighting qualities of Japanese soldiers and desire their service in an attempt to bolster the rapidly disintegrating Nationalist armies. e. The recent trip of WU Teh-chen to Tokyo gave rise to local gossip that the mission contacted several Japanese ex-officers, with a view of securing their services in Formosa. Surreptitious shipments of some personnel is alleged to have taken place already. C-I-C is investigating. The document then includes an attached radio message from the Department of the Army in Washington D-C, relaying a message from the State Department, dated August eighth…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

Case File · ARCHIVE-004Declassified

Filed NOV 15 · 2026Runtime 1 min

CIA From Storyflo, This Is Declassified.

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated November 15, 2026

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◆ BLUF — The short version

From Storyflo, this is Declassified. Today, we examine a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record from August twenty-third, nineteen-forty-nine, concerning intelligence on a proposed Japanese Foreign Legion in China. org. This memorandum was released under the Freedom of Information Act and reviewed by the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel, or I-S-C-A-P, for declassification.

Date: NOV 15 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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From Storyflo, this is Declassified. Today, we examine a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record from August twenty-third, nineteen-forty-nine, concerning intelligence on a proposed Japanese Foreign Legion in China. This document was retrieved from the Black Vault archive at archive.org…

View the primary source document

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What was CIA From Storyflo, This Is Declassified. about?: From Storyflo, this is Declassified. Today, we examine a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record from August twenty-third, nineteen-forty-nine, concerning intelligence on a proposed Japanese Foreign Legion in China. org. This memorandum was released under the Freedom of Information Act and reviewed by the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel, or I-S-C-A-P, for declassification.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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