125.633/5–848: Telegram
The Consul General at Mukden (Ward) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 10—10:59 p. m.]
197. When considering Embtel May 5, Department 812, Mukden 83, suggest rereading Mukden despatch 49, December 24, copy which sent Department,16 regarding status Foreign Service establishments in Communist-held northeast, particularly argument therein against skeletonizing staff this office prior to turnover. Am still of opinion that morale, welfare and safety of staff remaining Mukden at time turnover will be in direct ratio to numerical strength of staff. Augmentation of staff instead of diminishment prior to turnover would be well advised or, in any event, turnover date, as appraised on present military and other factors Mukden, still too remote to permit other [Page 816] than premature conjecture. Reduction of staff at this time would therefore not accomplish intended or fruitful purpose and would only impair reporting ability of office at time when information on developments this area needed by Embassy and Department in interpreting and appraising reports on trends and developments in intramural China. Entire American males staff from Mukden (with exception Cochran17) has elected remain Mukden should turnover take place during our assignment there. Such election was made subsequent my return from “Washington with information that the office would “go behind Red Curtain” with full staff. It is hoped firm policy toward staff size at time turnover will be formulated and Mukden informed in case such policy differs from impression gained in Washington.
Sent Department 197; repeated Nanking 266.