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

893.00/12–2848: Telegram

The Consul General at Tientsin (Smyth) to the Secretary of State

Tientsin, December 28, 1948.
[Received December 29—12:48 a. m.]

502. Full text of proclamation dated December 22 issued by Lin Piao as “Commander People’s Liberation Army, Peiping–Tientsin front” and Lo Yung-huan, Political Commissioner, summary of which given in Peiping telegram 598, December 27 to Department,⁷⁷ repeated Nanking 848, Shanghai 574, Tientsin, Tsingtao) was received by many firms, individuals and organizations (including Consulate General) in Tientsin yesterday through ordinary mail.

Another document from “Liberation Army” was received by number of persons and organizations Tientsin by ordinary mail yesterday; translation of text follows.

• “a. Discipline in cities and municipalities and policies pursued therein.
  • “1. After entry into city of Liberation Army with exception of garrisoning units, all other units shall within 12 hours withdraw from municipal area and industrial area.
  • “2. The Military Control Commission is highest executive authority in cities and municipalities. All party, military, political, financial and economic organs and army units are, after entry into city, under direction of Military Control Commission. After restoration of peace and order, municipal administration shall be taken over by municipal government.
  • “3. Without permission and certification of Military Control Commission, all organs and army units are strictly prohibited from buying things in city. The ‘Min Kung’, ‘Min Wu’ and other kinds of soldiers shall not enter city without pass.
  • “4. All personnel of party, political, army, financial and economic organs have responsibility to assist in maintenance of order, protection of organs, industries and materials, to propagate various policies and to arraign elements of destruction and trouble but they may not arrest or shoot any one at random. However, if there be in hiding ‘Government special agents’ who still offer resistance or make plot, these persons may first be arrested. Those who render meritorious service in this connection shall be rewarded.
  • “5. After entry into city there will be a special organ to take in scattered soldiers and wandering volunteers. In regard to the people in general, no slogan for general relief shall be brought forth but relief shall be given to those who are hard pressed in making a living.
  • “6. To protect firmly normal business of private industry or commerce. Those industrial or commercial establishments which are unable to carry on business or to make production on account of having sustained destruction or loss shall be given greatest possible assistance so as to enable them to resume business.
  • “7. To prohibit strictly the ‘poorman’s party’ or other illegal ‘rascals organization’ or any individual to take advantage of occasion to plunder or to destroy anything. Those who are indicted for such offenses shall be severely punished.
  • “8. Custodian of national enterprises, public utilities and military organs, as well as of their godowns, shall assist soldiers to guard them to wait for taking over. These premises must not be used for other purposes and articles contained therein must not be moved out at random. Unless furnished with certification from Military Control Commission no one shall be allowed to take them over.
  • “9. All personnel in various national enterprises, municipal governments’ organs and educational institutions shall be retained in their original posts and with original salaries. They shall work as usual and wait for the taking over. Those who render meritorious service in preservation of documents, files, appliances and material shall be rewarded. Those who destroy them shall be punished.
  • “10. Firm protection shall be given to religious bodies, foreigners’ enterprises and diplomatic establishments⁷⁸ of various nations. No arbitrary disposal may be made of them. Protection shall also be given to foreigners.
  • “11. All ‘government special agents’, party-men, members of San Min Chu [I] Youth Corps shall, within specified period, register themselves at designated office. Excepting those who have committed offenses in past, magnanimous treatment shall be given to all.
  • “12. In dealing with war criminals and unlawful elements the spirit of principles of ‘punishment to the leaders, pardon to those who have been coerced to follow, and reward to those who have achieved meritorious service shall prevail in all cases’.
• “b. Policies in industry and commerce.
  • “1. To confiscate and nationalize ‘bureaucratic capital’.
  • “2. To protect firmly private commercial business.
  • “3. To execute economic policy of ‘expanding production, achieving economic prosperity, taking into consideration requirements of both private person and the public and promoting interests of both capital and labour’.
• “c. Policies in education.
  • “1. To maintain existence of all educational groups and organs and proceed gradually with necessary and practicable reform.
  • “2. With respect to those engaged in work of education they will be reeducated and their standard raised.”

Sent Department, repeated Nanking 731, Shanghai 677, Peiping, Tsingtao.

Smyth

77. Not printed; for text of proclamation, see despatch No. 520, December 29, from the Ambassador in China, p. 700.
78. In airgram No. A–101, December 31, the Consul General stated that Chinese translators agreed that Chinese words shih kuan, which can mean embassies or legations, were used in a general sense and meant to include consular establishments as well (893.00/12–3148).