Office of the Historian

893.00/1–2148: Telegram

The Consul General at Canton (Boucher) to the Secretary of State

Canton, January 21, 1948—3 p. m.
[Received January 22—12:22 a. m.]

20. Remytel 19 Embassy, repeated Department 18, this date. Protective measures listed by Soong not considered adequate in event of recurrence incident like that January 16 because of lack real loyal support of many high level leaders within local military and municipal groups.

In my talk with Soong he put heavy blame on mayor and chief police which will widen their disaffection. Tone local press not conducive to easing situation (see mytel 20 Embassy, repeated Department 1989 this date) despite Soong’s statement to me yesterday “storm is over”.

Member my staff told by General Mui Pei Nan90 that no request for troop aid received at army headquarters until 3 p. m. Friday.

At meeting of five prominent Americans with self and Consulate General officers and Attachés, we decided situation does not warrant evacuation American women, children now but that tentative plans for their evacuation should be made.91

Sent Embassy 21, repeated Department 20.

Boucher
  1. Not printed.↩
  2. Lt. Gen. Miao Pei-nan, Deputy Military Affairs Commissioner at Canton.↩
  3. In telegram No. 108 to the Ambassador in China, repeated as telegram No. 11 to the Consul General at Canton on the same date, the Acting Secretary of State stated: “Dept. concurs paragraph 4. Submit evacuation plans Dept. when complete.” (393.1115/3–248) For further correspondence, see vol. viii , “Evacuation of Americans from China”.↩