What did the declassified documents reveal?

This episode of Declassified presents a memo from the Far East Command, Military Intelligence Section, General Staff, concerning intelligence on China, dated December sixteenth, nineteen-fifty. This declassified record is available at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act and was declassified on an unspecified date by an unknown authority. It is presented here in its original form as a public record. The document is a one-page letter from General Headquarters Far East Command, Military Intelligence Section, General Staff, Theatre Intelligence Division, Tokyo, Japan, dated December sixteenth, nineteen-fifty. It is addressed to Lieutenant Colonel J. O. Tarkenton, G-2, Headquarters Eighth Army, APO three-oh-one. The letter reads: "My dear Tarkenton: General Willoughby is naturally very much concerned with the lack [two lines redacted under exemption B1]. The best you can give us is now badly needed, and anything that comes our way we will send on to you. Our Essential Elements of Information, as published for the present operation, were never more essential than they now are. With my best regards, Colonel, GSC." The Black Vault’s archive entry for this document notes that it underscores the urgent need for military intelligence during the Korean War, specifically concerning China’s involvement. It highlights the United States' intelligence challenges at the time and the reliance on information gathered by field units. The "Essential Elements of Information" refers to critical intelligence requirements that guide collection efforts. This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. storyflo.com, and the document's canonical URL is archive.org/download/us-china-intel-CI00621/CI00621djvu.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-014Declassified

Filed OCT 26 · 2026Runtime 1 min

Army: This Episode Of Declassified Presents A Memo From The Far East Command

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated October 26, 2026

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◆ BLUF — The short version

This episode of Declassified presents a memo from the Far East Command, Military Intelligence Section, General Staff, concerning intelligence on China, dated December sixteenth, nineteen-fifty. com. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act and was declassified on an unspecified date by an unknown authority.

Date: OCT 26 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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Episode notes

This episode of Declassified presents a memo from the Far East Command, Military Intelligence Section, General Staff, concerning intelligence on China, dated December sixteenth, nineteen-fifty. This declassified record is available at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was released under…

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What was Army: This Episode Of Declassified Presents A Memo From The Far East Command about?: This episode of Declassified presents a memo from the Far East Command, Military Intelligence Section, General Staff, concerning intelligence on China, dated December sixteenth, nineteen-fifty. com. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act and was declassified on an unspecified date by an unknown authority.
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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Army: This Episode Of Declassified Presents A Memo From The Far East Command

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