893.01/10–148
Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Chinese Affairs (Freeman) to the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Butterworth)
In a broadcast directed particularly to the populaces of Changchun, Mukden, Chinchow and Chengteh, the Harbin radio announced eight principles governing occupation of new areas by Communist forces. Principle 6 regarding the treatment of foreign consulates is of particular interest and is quoted in full:
“6. Foreign consulates, missions and their personnel as well as foreign nationals and their property will be given protection without discrimination, provided they obey the laws decreed by the Democratic Government and carry on no destructive activities, or do not harbor war criminals or persons who engage in destructive activities.”
A summary of the other principles is as follows:
Land and property of people of all classes will be respected; privately owned industrial and commercial establishments will be protected from violence and permitted to function; industrial and commercial enterprises owned by Kmt Government will be taken over, but private capital invested in such enterprises will not be confiscated; public installations, religious and charitable institutions will not be destroyed; personnel should continue their normal activities; personnel of Kmt provincial, municipal and prefectural governments will not be placed under arrest except in case of resistance or destructive activities; officers and men of Kmt Armed Forces who surrender their [Page 845] arms will not be molested; and circulation of Nationalist currency will be suspended immediately in favor of Northeast liberated area notes.
A similar announcement was made by the Communists during the attack on Tsinan. Specific direction of this broadcast to citizens of Mukden, Changchun, Chengteh and Chinchow may indicate Communist intentions to initiate offensives against those cities in the near future.