What did the declassified documents reveal?

From Declassified, this is an audio briefing of a declassified United States Army cable detailing a proposed intelligence mission near China in March nineteen fifty-one, accessible at documents two dot the black vault dot com. This document, identified as Cable C five eight five seven five, was declassified by the United States Army and released through the Freedom of Information Act. It was originally marked Top Secret and was released as part of a larger collection of intelligence on China. The document reads: Declassified. Top Secret Incoming Message, Staff Communications Office, Department of the Army. Paraphrase not required. From: CINCFE Tokyo Japan. To: DEPTAR WASH D C for JCS. Info: COMNAVEFE Tokyo Japan. C five eight five seven five. March twenty-fifth, nineteen fifty-one. COMNAVEFE has suggested the following: "Provided that the situation in Korea does not become worse, and subject to the approval of the C-I-N-C-F-E, the Commander Seventh Fleet will be directed to obtain necessary photographic intelligence of the China coast and Hainan and to make a show of force in the East and South China coastal and Formosa Straits areas. In order to perform these tasks, a force from the Seventh Fleet consisting of two C-V, the Cruiser Manchester and appropriate destroyer escorts will depart Japanese waters in early April and return after a period of not more than two weeks. Priority will be given to obtaining the photographic intelligence so that as much as practicable of this information will be accumulated quickly should a premature return to Japan-Korea waters become necessary. This visit to the Formosan area will serve not only as a show of force and permit the gaining of intelligence but also will provide area familiarization for the ship crews and pilots, act as a deterrent to a Chinese Communist invasion of Formosa, and boost the morale of the Chinese Nationalists. Photographic surveillance of Hainan will provide data to determine details of the reported buildup of military installations in that area. This operation will take place following [four lines redacted under exemption B one] period of air interdiction and close air support missions and will be of such short duration that the Chinese Communist and North Koreans should be unable to greatly augment their units in Korea or rebuild their surface communication facilities. In addition the force will be available for immediate recall should the need for their capabilities arise in an emergency. All naval units other than the two carriers, the Cruiser, and the accompanying escorts will continue current operations in the Korea-Japan area. From the standpoint of the Korean campaign there is no objection. The views of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as to whether such maneuver is desirable are requested." Action: J-C-S (N-A-V-Y is for action). Info: C-S-A, C-N-O, G-S-A, G-N-G. This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. Find more at storyflo dot com and at archive dot org slash…

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.

Army: From Declassified, This Is An Audio Briefing Of A Declassified United States

◆ BLUF — The short version

From Declassified, this is an audio briefing of a declassified United States Army cable detailing a proposed intelligence mission near China in March nineteen fifty-one, accessible at documents two dot the black vault dot com.

Date: OCT 22 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was Army: From Declassified, This Is An Audio Briefing Of A Declassified United States about?: From Declassified, this is an audio briefing of a declassified United States Army cable detailing a proposed intelligence mission near China in March nineteen fifty-one, accessible 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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Army: From Declassified, This Is An Audio Briefing Of A Declassified United States

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