What did the declassified documents reveal?

From the State Department, a declassified memorandum of conversation from August third, nineteen-fifty-one, regarding intelligence reports on the outbreak of World War Three. This document is available at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was released by The Black Vault under a Freedom of Information Act request. The release date is unknown, but the declassification authority is the State Department. This record offers a glimpse into high-level discussions during the Korean War concerning potential escalation into global conflict. The declassified document is titled: Memorandum of Conversation, dated August third, nineteen-fifty-one, with the subject: Intelligence Reports on Outbreak of World War Three. Participants included Henri Bonet, French Ambassador, The Secretary, Mr. Reinhardt, E E, and Mr. Johnson, N A. Ambassador Bonet called at his request and stated that he had been instructed by the Foreign Minister to inquire of the Secretary concerning our evaluation of certain intelligence reports received by the French Government. He stated that the first report, which had been received by the French representative in Tokyo from U S military sources there, was to the effect that the Vice President of the Chinese Communist government had recently transmitted a message to the chief of the Chinese Communist secret service and to the Commander of the Chinese Volunteer Forces in Korea, to the effect that an outbreak of general hostilities could be expected shortly after the signing of the Japanese peace treaty on September eighth. The second report, also received by the French representative in Tokyo from U S military sources there, was to the effect that in a recent conference between Mao Tse-tung and Chou En-lai, it was stated that the successful outcome of the present armistice negotiations in Korea could not be expected, and that general hostilities would break out immediately following the signing of the Japanese peace treaty on September eighth. The third report, the Ambassador stated, was received by the French Government from Cominform sources in France, to the effect that World War Three would start during September of this year, and preparations therefor should be made. The Secretary replied that he had no personal knowledge of the first two reports, and as far as the third report was concerned, our information, while indicating the Communists were probably in a position to undertake general hostilities at any time, reported no unusual signs or indications pointing toward their intent to do so in September. The Ambassador stated he assumed that as the first two reports had not come to the Secretary's attention, they might well be of low evaluation. The Secretary stated that he would look into the matter immediately, and if the reports were such as to warrant immediate attention, he would get in touch with the Ambassador later this afternoon, but that if he did not do so, the Ambassador could assume that such was not the case, and…

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.

From The State Department, A Declassified Memorandum Of Conversation

◆ BLUF — The short version

From the State Department, a declassified memorandum of conversation from August third, nineteen-fifty-one, regarding intelligence reports on the outbreak of World War Three. com. This document was released by The Black Vault under a Freedom of Information Act request. The release date is unknown, but the declassification authority is the State Department.

Date: OCT 18 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

↯ Dispatch — press play1:00

0:001:00

↯ Share

X in r/

Episode notes

From the State Department, a declassified memorandum of conversation from August third, nineteen-fifty-one, regarding intelligence reports on the outbreak of World War Three. This document is available at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was released by The Black Vault under a Freedom of…

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was From The State Department, A Declassified Memorandum Of Conversation about?: From the State Department, a declassified memorandum of conversation from August third, nineteen-fifty-one, regarding intelligence reports on the outbreak of World War Three. com. This document was released by The Black Vault under a Freedom of Information Act request. The release date is unknown, but the declassification authority is the State Department.
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.

intelligence-vault

Related cases

✉ Dispatches

A short dispatch when a new file is released — narrated, answer-first, and linked straight to the primary source. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.

↯ Subscribe to the feed

RSS feed Browse all cases

From The State Department, A Declassified Memorandum Of Conversation

Questions about this case

Related cases

This Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, A Cable From July

This Declassified United States Army Record From July Fifteen

CIA Today, We Present A Declassified C I A Record Detailing Chinese Views On Peace

Today, A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, A Top Secret

Central Intelligence Agency Record Concerning United States Intelligence

Questions about this case

Related cases

This Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, A Cable From July

This Declassified United States Army Record From July Fifteen

CIA Today, We Present A Declassified C I A Record Detailing Chinese Views On Peace

Today, A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, A Top Secret

Central Intelligence Agency Record Concerning United States Intelligence

Get the next declassified case in your inbox