Office of the Historian

124.936/6–1748: Telegram

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

Washington, June 17, 1948—2 p.m.

884. Question possible removal language school from Peiping to other China location (Embtel 1011, June 5) has also received Dept’s careful consideration. For reasons given below such move believed impractical and undesirable:

(1)
Peiping locale ideal for study Chinese because (a) housing and school facilities adequate; (b) entire population speaks officially accepted Chinese dialect; (c) supply of good tutors unlimited. (If school were removed would be necessary take adequate number tutors who would undoubtedly be loath leave without families accompanying.)
(2)
Location of suitable housing facilities for students, director, tutors and families in any other China city would present formidable difficulties.
(3)
Transportation of persons mentioned in (2), together with household effects, school equipment, books, etc., would tie up excessive number aircraft at time when planes may be urgently needed evacuate dependents and non-essential personnel.
(4)
As language school (like USIS) integral part of ConGen, Dept sees no reason why it should be separated therefrom in event Comm control Peiping appears inevitable. At such time language students might prove extremely valuable in assisting in evacuation procedure women children and subsequently in providing additional eyes ears during period Comm control while improving language facility. Moreover Dept believes Emb’s concern lest services potential Chinese language officers be lost for “indefinite period” not entirely warranted and Dept cannot assume that in event of Comm capture Peiping it could not find means of arranging within reasonable period for evacuation such personnel.

It is obviously desirable to look into possibility removal of school to Kunming and Dept would appreciate receiving detailed info including cost, housing facilities, relocation tutors, etc.58 Based on info presently available, however, Dept of opinion language school should remain Peiping and continue functioning on same basis as ConGen unless future events areas overrun by Comms show such course action to be inadvisable. (Sent Nanking as 884, repeated Peiping as 102.)

Marshall
  1. This information was sent to the Department in Embassy’s telegram No. 1394, July 30, 6 p.m., not printed.↩