893.00/12–1648: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cabot) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 16—9:18 a. m.]
2802. Customs Inspector General Little35 has just shown me what purports to be a notice addressed to him by Communist military leaders Chu Teh and Peng Teh-huai (names typed but not signed) and recently delivered by ordinary mail to effect that foreigners employed by Chinese Government should remain at their posts and keep all properties intact for “final handing over to the people in the near future”, that foreigners who do this and comply with rules governing punishment of war criminals (listed in notice) will not be harmed.
Full English version of notice (all that Little received) being airmailed separately36 (notice is typed and evidently form letter presumably sent to other foreigners in Chinese Govt employ, as it is carbon copy except for Little’s name at top). Of interest is fact that the plain bond letter-sized paper used is (as proven by spread eagle watermark) same as that supplied by Department to Foreign Service officers and that used here also by other American agencies. Return address given on envelope (locally made) is Rotary Club, Shanghai. These points suggest possible deliberate intent to impress addressees with extent of Communist penetration of foreign circles. Notice dated November 11 posted at Shanghai, November 14. Cover bears final postmark indicating its apparent delivery at customs November 15, but Little did not receive it till yesterday.
Sent Nanking 2103, repeated Department 2802.