666


FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1950, VOLUME I


795B.5/9'30"W"
   The Secretary of Defense (Marnhall) to the Secretary of State

 SECRETT                          WAsINGTON , 30 September 19050.
 DEAR MR. ScRETARY-: I refer to Deputy Under Secretary Mat-
 the-ws letter of 27 September -1950,' setting forth the terms upon
 which -the Department of State proposes to stimulate Latin American.
 offers of military assistance for service in Korea.
 I am pleased to inform you that the Department of Defense is in
 agreement with the indented statement appearing upon- the second
 page- of this letter, which is in. consonance with: the principle- that
 each foreign government receiving supplies, equipment, services, or
 other logistical support from the United States should recognize.-the
 existence of an obligation-owing to this Government for such support,
 to be discharged in accordance with the criteria which you have out-
 lined. As you indicate, an exception may be made where special cir-
 cumstances in connectionwith a specific offer make this particularly
 desirable from thet standpoint of our general foreign policy.-My letter
 of 27 September 1950 concerning the offer of the-Government0of
 India 2 points out, however, that each such exception should be made
 only after the President has given us his express -approval, and should
 in no manner be communicated to third governments.
 I should like to observe that the Department of-Defense attaches
 great importance to preserving this principle of reimbursement. In
 my opinion-, the precedent which we are now establishing in the case
 of Korea will set the pattern for future collective military action. by
 the United Nations. In a larger sense, this Government is acting as
 executive agent for the United-Nations, and it-would appear un-,
 desirable to establish any general principle that-U.S. military sup-
 plies, services or equipment will be donated without creating any
 obligation on the part of their recipients. This is indeed an uncharted
 area in international affairs, and I therefore do not consider that we.
 should be bound by such precedents as Lend-Lease, which was con-
 ceived and executed before the-establishment of the-United Nations.
Rather, I would suggest -that our-present position as the, leader of
collective military action requires us to stimulate and awaken all other
members to the. difficult responsibilities as well as to the many privi-
leges of participation in that world organization.
  Faithfully yours,                               G. C. MARSHALL

  'NSoupra.
  * o printed.