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

125.633/5–548: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China ( Stuart )

Washington , May 20, 1948—6 p. m.

765. Additional instructions re evacuation officers and employees, their families and effects from posts in cities threatened by Com occupation being sent Emb via air pouch in Dept airgram A–107 May 19.¹⁹ These instructions are extension and amendment authority in Deptel 1581 Dec 29²⁰ and constitute reply to Embtels 813 [812] May 5 and 849 May 11.

Following is brief summary immediately important points airgram:

1. Evacuation: Authority extended Ambassador order or approve such evacuation. If principal officer at post decides upon partial or total evacuation, Ambassador should approve action as warranted by officer’s knowledge local situation. If Ambassador decides partial or total evacuation necessary, principal officer at post shall accept action as warranted by Emb knowledge over-all situation.

2. Travel and transportation effects: Travel expenses evacuation US personnel, their families and effects shall be authorized or approved by Ambassador under travel orders listed Deptel 1581 Dee 29 and TO 8–10037 (Research and Intelligence Program) dated May 17, 1948 and may include travel and transportation expenses to place or places safety China, nearby country or US. Evacuation travel orders issued alien employees shall be limited to places safety within China.

3. Transportation effects and emergency storage: Cost transportation effects shall include packing, cartage and other expenses accordance regulations and may be authorized independently of travel officers and employees and their families. Ambassador may his discretion authorize storage costs effects at Govt expense under emergency conditions either at post assignment or place safety.

4. Special cost living allowances: Under provisions Sec 103.399 FSReg special cost living allowance at rates $4 a day for one member and $1 a day for each additional member family authorized to be paid any US officer or US employee whose family evacuated under orders issued pursuant authority Deptel 1581 Dec 29 as amended by this airgram. This allowance payable to officers and employees for remaining period their assignment to posts from which families evacuated and for period families sojourn at successive points safety but not while families in travel status.

5. Other allowances: When families of officers or employees evacuated to points outside China, separation allowances authorized accordance Sees 103.330–103.342 FSReg. Special cost living allowance or separation allowance payable in addition to special post allowance payable to officer or employee accordance Sees 103.375–103.389 FSReg.

6. Allotments pay: As special cost living allowance payable only to officer or employee” and not directly to family, appropriate action should be taken to make allotments pay to dependents from salaries.

Pertinent portions foregoing should be repeated to consulates concerned. In repeating to Mukden inform Ward para no. 1 above on evacuation provides reply Mukden tel 195 May 7 to Dept.²¹

Full details re allotment numbers, forms and reports contained in airgram.

Marshall

19. Not printed.
20. Foreign Relations, 1947, vol. vii, p. 633.
21. Vol. viii , “Evacuation of Americans from China” (Ch. I).