What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency cable concerning contact with the Nationalist guerrilla leader Mao Sen, dated December sixteenth, nineteen forty‑nine. The record appears in the CIA’s electronic reading room and is notable because it reveals inter‑agency interest in the activities of a Chinese Nationalist operative after the Communist takeover of the mainland. The document was released to the public through The Black Vault, which posted the full transcription on its website under the identifier CI00309. The declassification authority is the CIA Office of Information Management, and the release is part of the agency’s routine declassification program. The file was made available online on the date of its upload, and the source URL is provided in the episode notes. The cable begins with a section of illegible text that has been omitted from the transcription. [unreadable portion] TRANSCRIPTION FOLLOWS (December sixteenth, nineteen forty‑nine) Another U.S. agency has a continuing interest in Mao Sen’s present and planned activities. It is desired that you inform [him] the Navy is interested in his plans and he will be contacted by a special representative in near future. In meantime request he not discuss the [reason] for this with any one else. The remainder of the three‑page cable consists of standard classification markings and routing instructions, all of which have been removed for brevity. The Black Vault’s editorial note accompanying the release reads: “This cable reflects a continuing interest by U.S. agencies in the plans of Mao Sen, a Nationalist guerrilla leader, after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. The document illustrates the coordination between the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of the Navy in seeking influence over anti‑Communist forces operating in China.” This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. For the full text and source information, visit storyflo.com and the archive at archive.org/download/us‑china‑intel‑CI00309/CI00309djvu.txt.

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-003Declassified

Filed NOV 12 · 2026Runtime 1 min

Central Intelligence Agency Cable Concerning Contact With The Nationalist

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated November 12, 2026

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◆ BLUF — The short version

This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency cable concerning contact with the Nationalist guerrilla leader Mao Sen, dated December sixteenth, nineteen forty‑nine. The record appears in the CIA’s electronic reading room and is notable because it reveals inter‑agency interest in the activities of a Chinese Nationalist operative after the Communist takeover of the mainland.

Date: NOV 12 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was Central Intelligence Agency Cable Concerning Contact With The Nationalist about?: This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency cable concerning contact with the Nationalist guerrilla leader Mao Sen, dated December sixteenth, nineteen forty‑nine. The record appears in the CIA’s electronic reading room and is notable because it reveals inter‑agency interest in the activities of a Chinese Nationalist operative after the Communist takeover of the mainland.
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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