125.6336/11–1348: Telegram
The Consul General at Mukden (Ward) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:28 p. m.]
564. Assume Department has copy Shanghai cirtel November 1144 setting forth directives of China director on USIS operations in Communist areas, which parallels Shanghai telegram 2388 to Department, November 11, regarding possible display Communist literature in our USIS reading room raised in mytel 537, November 9. We shall follow scrupulously all instructions but I feel that when formulating policy on USIS activity in China we should bear constantly in mind that with coming of Communists the days of old China with foreign establishments enjoying special privilege have in large measure passed. Principles which we formerly adhered to strictly and implemented successfully will have to be modified or made flexible to meet new order. Should we prove unrealistic and inflexible, we ourselves may cause sterilization our USIS program by having USIS reading room placed out of bounds and USIS materials and services refused by press, army, schools and other centers use and dissemination. While we should struggle to maintain strictly American character USIS, I feel we would be ill-advised to adhere steadfastly to inelastic principle at possible ultimate cost closure USIS.
I support Connors in that we should encourage or seek nothing which may destroy or even impair American character USIS, and this office will exercise its utmost artfulness to obviate such destruction or impairment, but at same time, since USIS aims are material and political as well as cultural and educational, we should not be so intransigeant in our methods incidental pursuit those aims as to preclude our use realistic means to achieve our goal, should such means become necessary to insure continued accessibility USIS to general public or perhaps continued existence USIS within Communist area. A foothold of a modified USIS program could give us possibility ultimate expansion and accomplishment our basic aims, whereas it is questionable that proscribed USIS could be reactivated without harmful delay if at all.
Attendance USIS reading room week ended last evening only 95, of which perhaps 80 percent by Red forces personnel, and among which were none our pre-November 1 users. We shall do utmost to keep this feeble candle glowing and nurture it into glowing light.
Sent Department; Department pass Nanking 688.