125.0093/552: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China ( Gauss )

837. Your 807, July 8, noon, and Department’s 639, July 16, 9 p.m.1 The Department would appreciate receiving your views, as requested in its telegram under reference, in regard to the question of the possible opening of temporary offices at Lanchow and Chengtu, as well as at Kweilin and Sian as recommended by you. Lanchow, for example, might be of special importance as an observation post. An office at Chengtu would, inter alia, serve the interests of a considerable number of Americans.

It is suggested that, after study of the matter, and unless you [Page 684] perceive objection, you approach the Foreign Office informally with a view to obtaining its consent to the opening of such of the suggested temporary offices as seem to you advisable, not of course as a matter of right, but purely as a matter of reciprocity and as in the interests of both countries. If the Chinese Government should prefer that any or all of the suggested new offices be considered and listed as merely temporary branch offices of the consular section of the Embassy or of the Consulate at Kunming, this Government would of course be disposed to meet Chinese wishes in this respect.

The Department would also appreciate your opinion as to the advisability of raising the Consulate at Kunming to a Consulate General.

Hull
  1. Latter not printed.