893.00/13431: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:20 a.m.]
66. 1. My 64, March 26, 9 a.m.
1. Central News Agency late March 26th published a statement which was issued by the Foreign Office, substance being as follows:
Reports of capture of Hungtung and Linfen (Pingyangfu) by Communists are denied by authoritative quarters which state that the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 25th Divisions have already arrived at Lingshi to assist Provincial forces and that with this large concentration of troops the Government can adequately cope with the situation. Reports of the fall of Hungtung and Linfen probably arose from “temporary suspension of passenger traffic on a section of the Tung Pass–Pu [Chow] Railway south of Lingshi due to heavy demand on its rolling stock”. The Shansi Provincial Government has telegraphed that: The Southern and Northern Route Armies (presumably Shansi armies) have been ordered to launch simultaneous attacks on the Communists between Hungtung and Linfen; that strong precautions have been taken to guard the two walled cities; and that since the Communists do not possess artillery there is no cause for alarm as to safety of residents. Nanking authorities are paying the greatest attention to the safety of foreign missionaries in menaced areas and the Shansi Provincial authorities have been instructed to take necessary measures to ensure the safety of foreign missionaries, and to utilize the best means to evacuate them if necessary.
2. The agency despatch goes on to say that it has confirmed from official sources that Hungtung and Linfen are still occupied by Government troops; and that a telegram from Yangku (Taiyuanfu) received the morning of March 26 states that two columns of Government troops are closing on the Communists between Hungtung and Linfen and speaks of the certainty of soon raising the siege of the two cities.
3. The communiqué’s explanation of the interruption of the railway is obviously not to be credited. It is known that postal and telegraph communications with Hungtung and Linfen are interrupted and that trains are not proceeding south of Yangku beyond Nankwan (just south of Sukow). So far as is known no messages have been received from residents of the two cities or from the troops which are allegedly occupying them although such troops would probably possess radio sending apparatus.
4. Repeated to Peiping, Tientsin, Shanghai.