LETTER TO THE HONORABLE SUMNER WELLES FROM DEAN RUSK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00036R000400050017-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 25, 2005
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: September 26, 1951
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2006/10/20: CIA-RDP83-00036R00040005OQ17-3
DEPARTINT OF STATE
Washington, D' C.
September 26, 195,
My dear I.a , ?elles:
The Department has under consideration a request from Senator I,IcCarran
of Nevada for information concerning a meeting which purportedly took place
bet,Yhee.n I:a.'. 1 arl l owder, Mir. Robert Minor, Mr. Lauchlin Currie, and you at
the State Department, October 12, 1942 to discuss American policy toward
China. ir. ?rowder, testified before a Senate Committee headed by Senator
Tyd_'n?s in A.Ihy 1950 that you handed him a written statement of the United
States Government rs views on the Far Last at the conclusion of this meeting,
Although a very careful search has been made of the Departments files,
we have not been able to locate the statement described by P:',r. Browder or any
record of your conversation with him. The files do reveal, however, that Im.
.Browder released to the press and the Daily Worker published October 16, 1942,
the text of a memorandum alle
dl
h
d
o
ge
y
an
ed t
m 111m, by you.
It is realized that- it is difficult to recall details of events which
transpired many years ago, but it would be greatly appreciatod if you could
furnish the Department such details concerning this matter as you might
have available. In this connection it might be helpful to you to read the
enclosed stet3ments by Mr. Browder taken from the Daily Worker.
I am most reluctant to bother you with this request, but the absence
of Buff, iclont information in the Department+s files has led us to seek your
assistance.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ Dean Rusk
Assistant Secretary
for Far Eastern Affairs
Enclosures:
Daily :orker, October 4, 1942
and 3c,Uo er 16, 1942.
The Honorable
Sumner elles;
Oxen Hall, P ryland
S UIVINER WELLCS
Oxon Hill Manor
Oxon Hill, Maryland
October 10, 1951
by dear Mr. Rusk:
I have been away from home for some time and your letter of September 26,E
last, has consequently only now been brought to my attention. I regret the de-
lay in replying to your enquiry.
In view of the many years that have passed since the interview to which
you refer in your letter, it is unfortunately very difficult for me to recolleat_
in any detail what took place during the course of the interview, Of one third,
however, I am certain, and that is that any memorandum that may have been hand-
ed to Iir. I3rovwder at that time was not prepared by myself, but by the Far
Eastern Division under the supervision of either Dr.. Hornbeck or Er. hTax Hamil-
ton, There is no copy of any such memorandum in my own files.
I also think I am correct in my recollection that some official of the Fax
Eastern Division was present at the interview and subsequently prepared at my re-
quest a memorandum of the conversation that took place.
Approved For Release 2006/10/20: CIA-RDP83-00036ROO0400050017-3