What did the declassified documents reveal?

Declassified This is a declassified United States intelligence cable concerning a potential Chinese offensive in the Korean War. The document, dated March twenty-eighth, nineteen-fifty-one, is notable for its direct communication between General Douglas MacArthur and General Matthew Ridgway regarding unfolding intelligence. You can find this document at archive.org. This document was released to the public under the Freedom of Information Act and was declassified by the Office of the Secretary of Defense on March thirty-first, two thousand five. It is sourced from The Black Vault archives. The document reads: Personal from General Ridgway. Number G X (T A C) one four zero K C G. Twenty-eighth March nineteen-fifty-one. Reference your message six five eight six seven six, the following is submitted. One. Have no absolutely confirming information. Two. However, since December nineteen-fifty, various sources have indicated expectation of Communist offensive. During February these reports increased with further sharp increase since zero one March, when they began to mention the date of launching this offensive as sometime in April. In addition, prisoners have reported unit political officer statements concerning forthcoming employment of Soviet aircraft and ground units, and concerning expected arrival of artillery and heavy equipment. Three. No reports have specifically mentioned Mongolian troops. I believe that any Soviet Military personnel used, might well be in capacity of "volunteers" initially. Four. Manner of intervention mentioned in your message felt to be entirely possible. Would doubtless be synchronized with C C F and N K P A offensives and timed to coincide with weather conditions advantageous to them. Such weather conditions will be increasingly frequent from late April onward. Five. Your message discussed above, your zero five seven eight seven two, D P G one six one six four one two March, and the subsequent follow-up message from U S N A Taipei, date-time-group sixteen zero nine three five two March, all three taken together, begin to form a pattern to which the statement in my paragraph two above tends to conform. Six. Subject is of vital importance to this command. Requisition of necessary intelligence on subject is far beyond capabilities of this command. In view of this paramount importance, I recommend intensive attention be devoted by theater and national intelligence agencies, to obtain at earliest. Paraphrase not required. For General MacArthur from General Ridgway. The Black Vault archive notes this document as US Intelligence on China, specifically concerning the Chinese Offensive in the Korean War. It highlights the direct communication between top generals regarding critical intelligence at a pivotal moment. This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. Find more at storyflo.com and at archive.org/details/us-china-intel-CI00690/CI00690djvu.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.

Declassified This Is A Declassified United States Intelligence Cable

◆ BLUF — The short version

Declassified This is a declassified United States intelligence cable concerning a potential Chinese offensive in the Korean War. The document, dated March twenty-eighth, nineteen-fifty-one, is notable for its direct communication between General Douglas MacArthur and General Matthew Ridgway regarding unfolding intelligence.

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

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What was Declassified This Is A Declassified United States Intelligence Cable about?: Declassified This is a declassified United States intelligence cable concerning a potential Chinese offensive in the Korean War. The document, dated March twenty-eighth, nineteen-fifty-one, is notable for its direct communication between General Douglas MacArthur and General Matthew Ridgway regarding unfolding intelligence.
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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