893.00B/4–648

The Consul General at Hong Kong (Hopper) to the Ambassador in China (Stuart)7

Sir: I have the honor to enclose a memorandum8 prepared by Vice Consul B. M. Service on March 9, 1948, summarizing an interview of Consul Fulton Freeman and Mr. Service with Ch’iao Mu9 and his wife Kung P’eng. Mr. Freeman was in Hong Kong awaiting arrival of the vessel on which he and his family traveled to the United States.

It is regretted that submission of this memorandum which was prepared in rough draft on March 9, and which deals with only two subjects discussed during the interview, has been subjected to delay.

In summary, the memorandum reports that Ch’iao Mu attempted to differentiate between the Communist party line of opposing American policy in China and anti-Americanism. He said that the Communists respect the affection of the American people for the Chinese people, and that the present campaign is directed against American policy alone. In connection with the hypothetical question of the Communist attitude toward the continued existence of a consular establishment in a city captured by the Communist forces, Kung P’eng and Ch’iao Mu expressed their opinion that the Communists would not close down such an office, although they said that restrictions might be placed on the operations of a consulate, and that operations would necessarily have to be in accordance with an agreement between the Consulate and the local authorities. Kung P’eng and her husband were interested in a description of the communication facilities enjoyed by the American Embassy and Consulates in North China subsequent to the Japanese occupation of that section of China,10 and apparently had been unaware of the privileges of consular establishments in this regard.

Respectfully yours,

George D. Hopper
  1. Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in his covering despatch No. 164, April 6; received April 13.
  2. Not printed.
  3. Chinese Communist spokesman at Hong Kong; at Chungking during the war years.
  4. 1937–1941.