893.50 Recovery/6–748: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 7—9:05 a.m.]
1022. To Department and ECA. Embassy June 3 presented FonOff draft rural reconstruction agreement with paragraph (2) article III given Embtel 987, June 2, 1 p.m. (reDeptel 828, June 3, 11 a.m.). This done on assumption Department would approve suggested revision.
Unless intended expand paragraph (1) article V specifically to cover expeditious clearance for official and personal effects of American members and personnel of commission, Embassy strongly advises suggested version paragraph (2) article III be retained inasmuch as our experience indicates mere granting by Chinese Government to US members and personnel of commission “same privileges and immunities as are enjoyed by the personnel of the Embassy” not necessarily sufficient to guarantee expeditious customs clearance.
Draft presented FonOff contained Embassy revision first part article IV as follows: [Page 608]
“In recognition of the importance of the program as one of the essential means of achieving the objectives in which the Governments of the US and China unite in seeking under the Act, the Government of China undertakes:
(1) To afford to the execution of the program the full weight of its support;” with remainder of article as given Deptel 810, May 28, 7 p.m.
Language originally used paragraph (1) article IV appeared needlessly cumbersome. Department approval of change requested.
Sent Department 1022, repeated Shanghai 453.