121.67/11–1548: Telegram

The Consul at Dairen ( Paddock ) to the Secretary of State

207. Attempt send pair couriers via Vladivostok apparently unsuccessful (Shanghai’s telegram 2292 to Department, November 2). It hoped further efforts send courier here will not, however, hinge on hope Soviet visas available for next Syslny [Smolny] trip. Reference port office’s personnel waiting at Shanghai for Soviet visas pertinent.

Status re Moscow Embassy request for Soviet permission send Government ship not known, Deptel 1169 to Moscow, September 27, repeated Nanking 1364. Unless there evidence permit to be granted, it would seem better develop entirely new route for servicing Dairen.

No courier here since July. Immediate problem is need for dollars, Contel 189 to Department November 1, repeated Nanking 81.26

Office broke by mid-January.

Thus, although Vice Consul Gleysteen and I still eager carry on here (Contel 62 to Nanking, October 1, repeated Department 160, to Moscow 54), it felt Embassy and Department need to explore new possibilities regarding sending courier or to reconsider value of maintaining this post.

Closing office would be unfortunate, as explained in reftel in last paragraph, due unique opportunity observe Soviet-Chinese Comm. relations here. If Communists take over Dairen openly, it probably would be difficult reopen Consulate, based on precedent of Harbin Consulate 1946.27

Additional factor now is perhaps Mukden eventually serviced through Dairen when reopens. Another incentive to “hang on” here is that courier problems possibly solved when port opened, Contel 91 to Nanking November 9, repeated Department 200.

Consulate itself has no ideas regarding other possibilities get courier here except as suggested in Contel 16, July 13 to Shanghai, repeated Department 106, Nanking 10.26 Principle would seem [to be] that if US had “right” send big Coastal Champion (initiated by Nanking telegram 501 to Department, March 1926) it also has right send small merchant ship each month. American flagship preferable but difficulties [Page 801] with local officials to be expected regardless of type transport carrier used and of prior Moscow arrangements.

Information requested as to current status courier problem and plans of Embassy and Department if solution not found soon.

Sent Nanking 96, Department 207, Department pass Nanking, Shanghai 137, Moscow 82.

Paddock
  1. Not printed.
  2. The Consul General at Mukden (Clubb) was appointed on July 9, 1946, as Consul General at Harbin, but be was never permitted to proceed beyond Changchun. The Harbin Consulate General was not opened, and Mr. Clubb was appointed Consul General at Changchun on May 29, 1947, until his transfer to Peiping later that year.
  3. Not printed.
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