121.67/8–3148: Telegram
The Ambassador in China ( Stuart ) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 1—2:19 p. m.]
1607. Closing of our Consulate General at Vladivostok not only resurrects vexatious question of maintaining courier service to our Consulate at Dairen, but it raises fundamental question of whether there is anything we can do to prevent Dairen Consulate from simply dying on the vine.
It is, of course, most unlikely that Soviet would permit continuance of recent Shanghai-Dairen courier service via Vladivostok, but, even [Page 789] if they should, such a service would be impossible from security point of view.
After careful study of files covering last 2 years, Embassy believes there are essentially only three means by which Dairen can now be serviced. In decreasing order of desirability, economy, and feasibility, they are:
- (1)
- By small unarmed US naval vessel or LCI from Tsingtao as was done early last year. This is certainly cheapest and most dignified method;
- (2)
- By small Korean flag coastal vessel or motor junk under charter as suggested in Dairen’s telegram 106 of July 13 to Department and pursued in Deptel 1447 of August 9 to Shanghai.4 Embassy looks with misgivings upon this method, since courier travel from Korea could easily be frustrated by Soviets on ground of visa technicalities and Soviet nonrecognition of South Korean Government. Furthermore, administrative difficulties of routing diplomatic pouches from Shanghai to Dairen via Seoul would be considerable;
- (3)
- By commercial vessels from Shanghai under charter such as proposed last spring for the SS Coastal Champion (reDeptel 633, April 9, to Shanghai5). This procedure would prove very expensive and difficult to maintain with any regularity. Furthermore, the weak-kneed Chinese policy of not giving offense to Soviet Union gives cause to believe that Chinese Government would itself eventually frustrate this means of communication by reverting to its contention that Dairen is closed port not open to commercial vessels.
In light of above, Embassy recommends that Department consider instructing Embassy Moscow to approach Soviet Foreign Office and flatly demand that Foreign Office either agree to establishment of monthly courier service to Dairen by unarmed US Naval vessels out of Tsingtao or suggest suitable alternative. Embassy at Moscow should shoot all its ammunition on one broadside. For instance, if Department has any appropriate means of retaliation, such as drastic tightening up on Soviet communications to Japan, mention of such retaliation should be made at same time.
Embassy further recommends that, if Soviets by either action or inaction after a month, still refuse to agree to courier service, we should recognize our defeat and Consulate at Dairen should be closed with full publicity.
In the meantime, Embassy requests Seoul to report on operational feasibility of running courier service from Seoul to Dairen by Korean flag coastal vessel.
Sent Department 1607, repeated Shanghai 757, Seoul 29.