893.86/10: Telegram

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

1567. With reference to the problem of the disposition of deserting Chinese seamen upon their deportation and arrival in India referred to in Embassy’s 2008, October 23, 9 a.m., War Shipping Administration desires to know whether these men will be transferred upon debarkation in India to the Chinese unit at Ramgarh. War Shipping Administration states it is anxious to deport 20 or 25 deserters in accordance with provisions of legislation recently enacted by Congress and agreement between the Chinese, British, and ourselves, and that failure to take such action would seriously aggravate this problem.

Stettinius