Uncovered Archive of David Galula's Work on US-China Relations Reveals Historical Insights

In a letter penned by William C. Bullitt on May 26, 1950, to Captain D. Galula, a French Military Observer in Salonika, Greece, the pressing issue of the potential Sino-Soviet alliance was discussed.

Bullitt expressed concern about the growing influence of communism in Asia, particularly in China, where it was associated with a nationalist and anti-white movement. He believed that fighting communism by improving the quality of life of the population was a long-term endeavour, and time was not on our side.

The Chinese communist leaders, who rose to power without significant aid from the USSR, may feel more independent regarding directives coming from Moscow. However, Bullitt noted that they have large colonies to draw on for the propagation of communist ideology.

The Chinese communist regime is solidly in power in China, and supporting the nationalist government to defeat it is a waste of resources. The Communist Party of Greece, on the other hand, was unable to carry out real guerilla operations due to a lack of support from the population. American aid played a significant role in its defeat.

The most pressing and most serious problem posed by communist China to the Western powers is preventing China from fighting in the Soviet bloc, as it could lead to a third world war within five years. An immediate war to prevent the Sino-Soviet alliance is not a solution, as it would hasten the alliance and not resolve the main problem.

Bullitt proposed a simple and positive plan of action. He suggested devoting all our intelligence efforts to determining the USSR's attitude towards Communist China, seeking agreement from Western countries on a possible blockade of China, and if agreement is reached, applying the blockade if the USSR shows a tolerant attitude in its relations with Communist China.

The blockade of China could reduce the military potential of a likely enemy, but it would deprive us of markets essential to the prosperity of our economy. However, Bullitt believed it was a sacrifice we must make to prevent a third world war.

The blockade would be harder for Great Britain, whose government is hoping to save Hong Kong and its £300 million capital. No Asian country, except perhaps Japan, is organized enough and ripe to form a solid military barrier against China once war has broken out. A policy of a cordon sanitaire around China, paired with military aid to its neighbours, is insufficient to resolve the main problem.

Bullitt was concerned about the consequences of a victory for the Chinese communists, especially if they ally with the USSR. He attributed the causes for the defeat of the Communist Party of Greece compared to the Chinese Communist Party primarily to the political and military interference of external powers. In the South-east Asian theatre, technical superiority would not come into play, and without the use of biological warfare resources, a war would be waged as a war of infantry.

The author of the letter, Bullitt, values Galula's opinions highly and believes that everything Galula predicted has come to pass. He mentions that he would be happy to see Galula again. The letter was sent from the "William C. Bullitt papers Group No. 112, Box no. 31, Series No. IFolder No. 10".

Captain Galula had previously written a letter to Bullitt, the contents of which are not specified. The study he sent to Bullitt, which was not intended for publication, discussed the defeat of the Communist Party of Greece. The Greek military problem is now handled, at least in the context of the Cold War.

The author of the study is concerned about the consequences of a victory for the Chinese communists, especially if they ally with the USSR. He is particularly worried about the shift of Chinese nationalism, initially directed at foreigners, towards the Russians if they become the most visible strangers. A schism could happen between China and Russia over time due to deep-rooted seeds of discord.

If Russia grants aid to China, it would weaken its own economy, and if it refuses, China will face a dilemma between making do with its own resources or seeking help from the West. This dilemma could potentially lead to a weakening of the Sino-Soviet alliance.

In conclusion, the potential Sino-Soviet alliance poses a significant threat to the Western powers. Preventing China from fighting in the Soviet bloc is crucial to avoid a third world war. The proposed blockade, although challenging and potentially economically damaging, could be a viable solution if agreed upon by the Western countries.

Uncovered Archive of David Galula's Work on US-China Relations Reveals Historical Insights