Office of the Historian

125.6336/10–2548: Telegram

The Consul General at Mukden (Ward) to the Secretary of State

Mukden, October 25, 1948—3 p.m.
[Received October 25—5:36 a.m.]

422. For Clark4 . Cessation air lifting supplies into Mukden 2 days ago plus other indications may be prelude to complete Government withdrawal from Mukden and until contrary indications prevail, I shall assume early Government abandonment this city. If air lift requested effective tomorrow (mytel 557, October 21, repeated Department 412) has not yet been implemented, I urge that it begin without delay. Picard5 and McAllister,6 now believed Nanking, should return soonest. Erickson,7 now believed Shanghai, should also return. Understand Stokes8 now in Shanghai hospital for fever diagnosis and he should return as soon as fit.

If abandonment Mukden contemplated, it is being carried out with knowledge only highest ranking military, even top flight civilian officials being kept in ignorance in view which my interpretation of indications should make it utmost secrecy. Even though my apprehensions may be groundless, I feel that situation so delicate as to warrant leaving as little as possible to chance.

Sent Nanking 572, repeated Department.

Ward
  1. Lewis Clark, Minister-Counselor of Embassy in China.↩
  2. Hugo C. Picard, code clerk at Mukden.↩
  3. Capt. Edward L. McAllister, Assistant Military Attaché.↩
  4. Elden Erickson, clerk at Mukden.↩
  5. William N. Stokes, Vice Consul at Mukden.↩