893.00/13429: Telegram

The Counselor of Embassy in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State

64. My 63, March 24, noon.

1.
March 25, 4 p.m., I discussed with Vice Minister Hsu Mo65 Reuter’s report dated Peiping, March 25 that Hungtung had been occupied by Communist forces. He said the Foreign Office had received no information to this effect.
2.
March 25, 7 p.m., the Foreign Office telephoned that the Military Affairs Committee thought it most unlikely that Hungtung and Linfen where there are many British missionaries had been occupied by such forces and that the report had been inspired from “certain source.” The Committee stated that four divisions of Government troops are in the area affected and that no anxiety need be felt for the safety of American citizens at Hungtung. Special instructions had been issued by the Committee to commanders in Shansi to rescue foreigners. I replied that the Embassy still felt great concern and pointed out that for about 1 week no reliable information concerning the fate of Hungtung had been received. I suggested that a military plane reconnoitering could at least ascertain whether Hungtung had been seized by the Communist forces and urged that accurate information be obtained. The Foreign Office assured me the Government was doing its utmost to safeguard foreign lives.
3.
March 26, 9 a.m., the Foreign Office telephoned that a telegram had been received from the Shansi Provincial Government that there was absolutely no foundation for the report of the capture of Hungtung by the Communists; that the Communists had no equipment with which to make such an attack; that the Communist forces between Linfen and Hungtung were being “squeezed out” by Government troops approaching from the north and south; and that no serious anxiety need be felt for American citizens at Hungtung. The Foreign Office said that apparently Linfen was not mentioned because the telegram was in reply to a specific inquiry concerning Hungtung.

Repeated to Peiping, Shanghai and Tientsin.

Peck
  1. Chinese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs.