What did the declassified documents reveal?

This declassified Central Intelligence Agency record, a memorandum of conversation from September second, nineteen fifty-eight, offers a rare glimpse into high-level United States discussions during the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis. This document, along with others related to U.S. intelligence on China, is available at archive.org. This memorandum was released under the Freedom of Information Act. It details a conversation between key U.S. officials, including Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, concerning the evolving military situation in the Taiwan Strait. The document, titled "Memorandum of Conversation", dated September second, nineteen fifty-eight, concerns the "Taiwan Straits Situation". Participants included Secretary of State Dulles, Undersecretary of State Herter, Deputy Undersecretary Henderson, General Twining, Admiral Burke, General Taylor, General Byers, and White House official Goodpaster. The Secretary inquired about the actual situation on the offshore islands. General Twining replied that the Nationalists on Kinmen probably had sufficient matériel to last sixty to ninety days. He confirmed that there were indications that the defenders were rationing their use of shells, although there was plenty of ammunition on the island. General Taylor noted that twelve eight-inch howitzers were being shipped to Kinmen and should add useful capabilities. Both sides were well dug in, he added, and could take a lot of pounding. It would be a very difficult job to dig out the guns on either side with conventional weapons. The Secretary asked what escort would be provided. Admiral Burke replied that destroyers would be used, and in answer to a further query from the Secretary, stated that while there would be some danger of their being hit, it was not very great as long as they kept moving. They would be difficult targets for inexperienced gunners. He also pointed out that destroyers would not be moving in international waters, which would reduce the danger of being hit. Regarding the danger to the destroyers, the point was also made that Communist air strength did not appear so far to have been used either to attack the islands or to supplement their naval operations. In reply to the Secretary's inquiry, what direct sources of information we had on Kinmen, Admiral Burke stated that there was an Army Advisory Group there, as well as a C-I-A representative. General Byers commented that while the Advisory Group's communications facilities had been knocked out in the first bombardment, they were able to be restored, not through the C-I-A representative, but more by using civilian telephone lines which were not knocked out. Admiral Burke also referred to a seriously heavy typhoon which was approaching Taiwan. As a result, the seas in the Taiwan Strait would be so heavy that no amphibious vessels would be able to cross to the islands for the next several days. The Secretary inquired what indications there…

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.

This Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, A Memorandum

◆ BLUF — The short version

This declassified Central Intelligence Agency record, a memorandum of conversation from September second, nineteen fifty-eight, offers a rare glimpse into high-level United States discussions during the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis. S. org. This memorandum was released under the Freedom of Information Act.

Date: SEP 21 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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This declassified Central Intelligence Agency record, a memorandum of conversation from September second, nineteen fifty-eight, offers a rare glimpse into high-level United States discussions during the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis. This document, along with others related to U.S. intelligence on…

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Questions about this case

What was This Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, A Memorandum about?: This declassified Central Intelligence Agency record, a memorandum of conversation from September second, nineteen fifty-eight, offers a rare glimpse into high-level United States discussions during the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis. S. org. This memorandum was released under the Freedom of Information Act.
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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This Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record, A Memorandum

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