893.00/13423: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China ( Peck ) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 24—10:10 a.m.]
63. My 62, March 24, 10 a.m. to the Department. The Foreign Office has just telephoned that the Shansi Provincial Government has reported that instructions have been issued to the military forces in the Hungtung area to take special measures for the protection of foreign residents and that it is expected that the Communists in that area will be suppressed shortly. The Foreign Office on the evening of March 23 sent an urgent request to the Military Affairs Committee that it issue instructions to Government troops in South Shansi to rescue foreign residents threatened by Communist bands.
The Foreign Office promised to telegraph immediately to the Shansi Provincial Government for a brief report and explanation of the report contained in telegram from Shanghai to the Department No. 178, March 23, 7 p.m.64
- Not printed.↩