393.1163/1247

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Counselor of Embassy in China (Vincent)1

Present: Dr. K. C. Wu, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ambassador Gauss
Mr. Vincent

In the course of a farewell call on Dr. Wu,* the Ambassador brought to Dr. Wu’s attention the various cases of occupation of American property which had been and are still a cause of concern to the Embassy. Mr. Gauss said that he had taken the matter up with Dr. Soong2 informally and he wished to bring the matter to Dr. Wu’s attention in the hope that corrective action could be taken very soon. He mentioned five of the outstanding cases and handed Dr. Wu copy of an informal memo3 which Mr. Horace Smith, Secretary of the Embassy, had prepared on the subject. Mr. Gauss said that with the approaching relinquishment of extraterritoriality4 these cases of occupation occasioned him special concern and that he disliked returning home to have to report that nothing had been accomplished in response to the Embassy’s representations. Mr. Vincent invited particular attention to the case of occupation by the China Transport Company of a building belonging to the Methodist Mission at Chungking. He said that the Embassy itself planned to lease this building and urged Dr. Wu to take steps to compel the CTC to remove by April 1 when the Embassy expected to occupy the building. Dr. Wu said that he would forward the matter to the Minister of Communications and would do what he could to have the building vacated about April l.5

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Dr. Wu said that he would take measures to obtain the return of the various properties to the rightful owners. He remarked, humorously, that instructions had been issued to various provincial and district officials ordering that foreign property and personal interests should be given even greater protection and consideration upon the relinquishment of extraterritoriality than they had been given heretofore.

The Ambassador also mentioned to Dr. Wu the various restrictions that were placed upon Americans who desired to travel in China. He pointed out that an American, he understood, could not obtain authorization to travel in more than two provinces; that in order to obtain even this limited authority he must send his passport to the Embassy which in turn had to send it to the Foreign Office for the authorization and that there was also the matter of obtaining permits from local authorities to travel. He said that Chinese in America with valid visaes could travel about without restriction. Dr. Wu said that China was at war. Mr. Gauss said that America was at war also. Dr. Wu said that the restrictions were placed upon the travel of foreigners for their own protection; that China had been at war for some six years; and that conditions were such as to make it necessary to keep some check on the movement of foreigners. He stated as his belief that Chinese travelers were subjected to greater restrictions than were foreigners and that particular efforts were made to facilitate the movement of Americans. In conclusion Dr. Wu said however that he would give his attention, as the Ambassador had requested, to finding some means of simplifying and making less troublesome restrictions on travel.

In connection with the matter of travel, the Ambassador also mentioned the surveillance to which Americans were subjected by local police, gendarmes, and other Government agents. Their private affairs were pried into and they were continuously being asked to furnish information largely of a personal character. He said that such methods in China made a very bad impression on foreigners. Dr. Wu said he regretted this and would give the matter his attention.

J[ohn] C[arter] V[incent]
  1. Copy transmitted to the Department by the Counselor of Embassy in his despatch No. 1013, March 20; received April 16.
  2. On March 9, 1943. [Footnote in the original.]
  3. T. V. Soong, Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs.
  4. Not printed.
  5. See bracketed note, p. 690.
  6. This building was duly vacated and after renovation was occupied by the American Embassy.