Telegram to Peng Dehuai [1] et al. Regarding Intelligence on U.S. Military Preparations for Withdrawal from Korea (December 11, 1950)

Peng, Gao, and Song [2]:   (1) Top Secret: U.S. Army Chief of Staff Collins, acting on orders, has traveled to Japan and the Korean front to confer with MacArthur, Walker [3], and other senior U.S. commanders. Following these discussions, he has concluded that the situation facing United Nations and U.S. forces in Korea is hopeless. Collins believes that, given the current pace and scope of the People’s Volunteer Army and the Korean People’s Army offensives, coupled with the severe losses suffered by U.S. troops in manpower and equipment and the extremely deteriorated morale, it is impossible for U.S. forces to establish a sustained defensive line. Collins has reported these findings and his assessment to the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.  Collins’ report indicates that he has issued appropriate instructions to MacArthur, directing him to prepare shipping vessels and to concentrate troops at designated ports in preparation for withdrawal. According to reports from foreign news agencies, Seoul is currently being readied for evacuation. Whether this intelligence is accurate will likely be confirmed shortly—certainly no later than when my 13th Corps reaches Kaesong and other areas close to Seoul. To prevent demoralization among the troops, this information should not be disseminated.

(2) MacArthur has assembled a large fleet of ships and naval vessels at Hungnam Port, south of Hamhung, and has publicly announced that the X Corps (under Major General Almond) will soon withdraw from that port. Enemy forces at Wonsan already evacuated by sea yesterday, the 10th.  According to an Associated Press dispatch dated the 10th, units of the Marine Division and other encircled formations—numbering over two hundred trucks—were led by Major General Smith, commander of the 1st Marine Division, who broke out of the encirclement and reached Hungnam Port. As a result, the various enemy units trapped in the Hwangch’ollyŏng area now lack a single commanding officer exercising unified control on the battlefield. Many news agencies report that Chinese forces are fighting with extraordinary valor, while U.S. forces are in a dire predicament and have sustained heavy losses.

Mao Zedong, December 11, 10:00 a.m., printed from manuscript.

Notes  [1] Peng Dehuai was then Commander and Political Commissar of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.  [2] Gao refers to Gao Gang, who at the time served as Commander and Political Commissar of the Northeast Military Region of the People’s Liberation Army. Song refers to Song Shiyun, Commander and Political Commissar of the Ninth Corps of the Chinese People’s Volunteers.  [3] MacArthur was then Supreme Commander of the “United Nations Command” directing the war in Korea. Walker was Commander of the U.S. Eighth Army.