811.91293/171: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 8—9:31 p.m.]
692. Your telegram No. 243, July 23, 4 p.m. Although reluctant to insist upon a judgment in opposition to that of the Department I feel so strongly that it would be a tactical error to reopen Abend case that I have held the matter in abeyance while debating with myself whether to ask the Department’s reconsideration of its instruction. There is every indication that the Chinese authorities tacitly acquiesce in their defeat in the matter and are content to have us ignore their demand for his deportation. To reply to that demand would make it difficult if not impossible for them to drop the quarrel, as I believe is their intention, and to do so would put us in no better position to meet a possible resumption of the campaign against him. I therefore beg to request authorization to make no reply unless the situation so alters as to make it tactically advisable.