What did the declassified documents reveal?

This episode of Declassified presents a declassified C-I-A record concerning Chinese intentions toward the Korean War. The document is a cable from the Department of State, originating from The Hague, dated October third, nineteen-fifty. It is notable for providing early intelligence regarding China's potential entry into the Korean conflict. This record is available on vault.fbi.gov and documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act and is part of a larger collection of U.S. intelligence on China. It was made publicly available by The Black Vault and can be found via its canonical U-R-L. The declassification authority is not specified on the document itself. The document is a corrected copy of a telegraph branch record, action control eight-one-three, received October third, nineteen-fifty. It is from The Hague, info S-S, to the Secretary of State, regarding cable four-ninety, October third, six P-M. N-I-A-C-T. O-L-I-A, C-I-A, D-C-R. Secretary-General Boon gave me today a resume of all recent cables from Dutch Charge Peking bearing on the Korean situation. He explained that while no date was fixed therein, this was the most recent information and based largely on Panikkar's observations, although checked by Dutch language officers with such sources as were still available. Boon believed the reports correct, although inclined to believe there might be some bluffing. One. Chou En-lai said in a private conversation China would fight if the thirty-eighth Parallel were crossed. When it was pointed out that events at U-N-O Assembly and S-C seemed to indicate a more favorable tendency towards China, and that in the event of war with U-S-A Chinese industrial resources and equipment, especially in Manchuria, were bound to be completely destroyed, Chou En-lai insisted China had defended herself against "further aggression" by U-S-A; crossing the thirty-eighth would be considered such. Two. The Chief of Staff of the Chinese Army, in a private conversation, made a statement: China had no choice but to fight if the thirty-eighth Parallel was crossed. Although he realized war with the U-S-A would set back China's development fifty years or more, the Chief of Staff's opinion was that if no resistance was offered this time, China would forever be under American control. Three. Furthermore, a cable from Peking, a Nehru cable, personal message to Mao, states: A. Great Britain, France, and U-S decided in New York the thirty-eighth Parallel would not be crossed until after the matter had been discussed at U-N-O. B. India was against crossing the thirty-eighth Parallel by military forces. C. India was bringing as much pressure as possible on the U-K to prevent crossings. Boon said the telegram of appreciation for the foregoing information that moment in from Peking had high points of which he translated, allowing me to take notes. The Dutch Charge was convinced the Peking Government did not want war, but there was a…

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-013Declassified

Filed NOV 2 · 2026Runtime 1 min

CIA This Episode Of Declassified Presents A Declassified C I A Record

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated November 2, 2026

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This episode of Declassified presents a declassified C-I-A record concerning Chinese intentions toward the Korean War. The document is a cable from the Department of State, originating from The Hague, dated October third, nineteen-fifty. It is notable for providing early intelligence regarding China's potential entry into the Korean conflict.

Date: NOV 2 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was CIA This Episode Of Declassified Presents A Declassified C I A Record about?: This episode of Declassified presents a declassified C-I-A record concerning Chinese intentions toward the Korean War. The document is a cable from the Department of State, originating from The Hague, dated October third, nineteen-fifty. It is notable for providing early intelligence regarding China's potential entry into the Korean conflict.
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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