893.24 FLC/10–2848
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the
Secretary of State
No. 447
Nanking, October 28, 1948.
[Received November
8.]
Sir: As authorized by the Department’s telegram No.
1407, October 6, 7 p.m.,41
repeated to the American Consul General in Shanghai as 1724, the
Minister-Counselor addressed a letter to Dr. Tung Ling, Director, American
Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirming the minutes of the
agreement which had taken place on September 21, 1948, regarding the Surplus
Property Agreement. A
[Page 725]
copy of that
letter dated October 8 is enclosed. There is also enclosed a copy of a reply
from Dr. Tung Ling indicating the approval of the Chinese Government of the
tentative agreement reached on September 21, and expressing the opinion
that: “Since the approved minutes shall be binding on both Governments, the
letters exchanged between us will be considered as adequate implementation
of the Surplus Property Agreement”.
I shall appreciate being informed whether the Department agrees that this
exchange of letters is all that is required to carry out what in Nanking we
have considered to be no alteration of the agreement, but merely agreed
measures for its implementation.42
Respectfully yours,
For the Ambassador:
Lewis
Clark
Minister-Counselor of
Embassy
[Enclosure 1]
The Minister-Counselor of the American Embassy
(Clark) to the Director of the American Department of the
Chinese Foreign Office (Tung)
Nanking, October 8, 1948.
Dear Dr. Tung: I am writing to acknowledge
receipt of your letter of October 1, 1948,43 enclosing minutes of our meeting on September
21, regarding the Surplus Property Agreement.
This is to confirm to you that I have been authorized by the United
States Government to say that it approves the agreement we reached, as
reported in the minutes enclosed, as follows:
“We tentatively agreed as follows, subject to approval by Washton
and the Chinese Government:
- (1)
- Subject to agreement on following points, cut-off date
will be October 31, 1948, for surplus property and
December 31, 1948, for scrap;
- (2)
- Mr. Clark said that the Army defines scrap as article
which has no reasonable prospects of sale except for its
basic material content, and added that owning agencies
would have that definition of scrap in mind when
determining articles to be scrap;
- (3)
- When Bosey finds that property declared surplus
subsequent to June 30, 1948, is of value only as scrap,
OFLC shall look into matter in endeavor to have
declaration reviewed;
- (4)
- In any event, if property declared surplus is on
reconsideration declared scrap by owning agencies, it
will be made available to China as scrap;
- (5)
- Where property has been declared surplus after June
30, 1948, and prior to agreement on cut-off date, such
property will be renotified to China as surplus and
China will be given sixty days from such renotification
to exercise her right to possession, and four, rather
than six, months for removal after China has acquired
right to possession;
- (6)
- As compensation for the withdrawal from Eniwetok, the
United States will withdraw from the Surplus Property
Agreement certain islands selected by Bosey in agreement
with FLC;44
- (7)
- In response to Mr. Clark’s request, Dr. Tung Ling
promised to do what he could to expedite the removal of
properties from the Australian Mandated Territory; and,
in return, Mr. Clark promised to assist in any way
possible.”
I should appreciate being advised whether the Agreement has the approval
of your Government and whether any further steps are necessary to
implement this interpretation of the Surplus Property Agreement.
Very sincerely yours,
[Enclosure 2]
The Director of the American Department of the
Chinese Foreign Office (Tung) to the
Minister-Counselor of the American Embassy (Clark)
Nanking, October 26, 1948.
Dear Mr. Clark: In reply to your letter of
October 8, 1948, regarding the minutes of our meeting on September 21,
1948, on the seven points in connection with the Surplus Property
Agreement of 1946, I am glad to inform you that my Government has
approved the agreement we reached as contained in the said minutes.
Since the approved minutes shall be binding on both Governments, the
letters exchanged between us will be considered as adequate
implementation of the Surplus Property Agreement.
Very sincerely yours,