Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Far East: China, Volume VII

893.00/12–2348: Telegram

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

Nanking, December 23, 1948—9 a. m.
[Received December 23—7:51 a. m.]

2606. In connection with increasingly strict CCP control on foreign evangelical activity in Tsinan reported in Tsingtao telegrams to Department 222, December 18 and 224, December 20,⁶³ we would observe that these controls coincide closely with famed article 124 of Soviet Constitution of 1936 which states, in part, “freedom of religious worship and freedom of anti-religious propaganda is recognized for all citizens”. It appears that in Tsinan as well as in USSR there is now no “freedom for religious propaganda”.

We assume that this change from relatively favorable situation of foreign missions in Tsinan which first followed Communist occupation of city largely reflects changeover from military administration to civic administration by CCP political workers.

Sent Department 2606, pouched Tsingtao.

Stuart

63. Both telegrams are printed in vol. viii , “Evacuation of Americans from China” (Ch. II).