What did the declassified documents reveal?

From the Declassified archives, this is a declassified memorandum discussing proposals for United States assistance to anti-communist guerrillas in China, dated June twenty-first, nineteen-fifty. This record is made available courtesy of The Black Vault at documents two dot the black vault dot com. This document was originally classified Top Secret and released under the Freedom of Information Act. It is held within the U.S. Intelligence on China collection. The document is a memorandum from the Office of Chinese Affairs to the Assistant Secretary for Far Eastern Affairs, signed by Assistant Secretary Perkins. It discusses the delicate question of possible American assistance and advice in guerrilla operations. The memorandum states: "As suggested in the memorandum to you on the Kan Chieh-hou guerrilla activities, it is believed that a selected person or group in the Department should be designated to ascertain what proposals have been placed before American quarters and to study such proposals. The Attaché at Taipei has been in touch with Mao P'eng-nan, former Shanghai Police Commissioner, who appears to have grandiose plans. It is unclear if Mr. Mao's involvement in his operations has intelligence aspects. We already hear of a scheme to use an O.K. station for reception of mainland guerrilla broadcasts. This might be related to intelligence only peripherally. He does not appear to have an intelligence collection or guerrilla operation experience aspect of the present proposal. If this could emerge from the Chinese scene, there could be no participation at all. The question of American involvement in Chinese guerrilla activities (as distinguished from intelligence work) is definitely one requiring a high policy decision. If the Department does not, therefore, move in, we may before long see paramilitary commitments by various individuals and agencies to filibusterers unknown to us. The matter has been discussed with S/P, Mr. Krentz, who agrees that a high-level policy decision should be reached on the question of whether we are actively to support guerrilla movements in Communist China at all. There are numerous arguments pro and con on this question which would need careful study. Even if this decision is not made within the near future, however, it is recommended that the Department proceed without delay to ascertain the present factual status. It is suggested that the two reference despatches be referred to R for consideration of and action on the intelligence aspects of the Wang proposal." This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. For more declassified documents, visit storyflo.com and the canonical URL for this document at archive.org/download/us-china-intel-CI00359/CI00359djvu.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-007Declassified

Filed NOV 10 · 2026Runtime 1 min

From The Declassified Archives, This Is A Declassified Memorandum Discussing

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated November 10, 2026

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◆ BLUF — The short version

From the Declassified archives, this is a declassified memorandum discussing proposals for United States assistance to anti-communist guerrillas in China, dated June twenty-first, nineteen-fifty. This record is made available courtesy of The Black Vault at documents two dot the black vault dot com.

Date: NOV 10 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was From The Declassified Archives, This Is A Declassified Memorandum Discussing about?: From the Declassified archives, this is a declassified memorandum discussing proposals for United States assistance to anti-communist guerrillas in China, dated June twenty-first, nineteen-fifty. This record is made available courtesy of The Black Vault at documents two dot the black vault dot com.
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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