124.936/10–2749: Telegram
The Second Secretary of Embassy in China (Bacon) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 28—1:21 a. m.]
2323. We are finding it increasingly difficult secure protection for US Government property clue to adamant stand of Public Safety Bureau that they will deal only with owner of property, or in case foreign government-owned property, only with resident of premises. They refuse admit Embassy officer US Government as owner. In recent case where Clough tried to report burglary in occupied house, he was told only Chinese watchman residing on the premises could make report. PSB attitude is based on doctrine that since US has no diplomatic relations with Peiping Government, no American in China can represent US Government interests here. Doctrine leads to absurdity that only Chinese watchman can deal with PSB in matters concerning protection of unoccupied US Government-owned property [Page 841] where he happens to be stationed. We have taken position that as officials of US Government we have responsibility for its property and we consider PSB, as agency responsible for law enforcement in Nanking, has obligation to act on reported violations of law, whoever reports them. Fortunately, local police and PLA5 soldiers have shown higher sense of public responsibility, and in robbery case cited above, acted promptly to apprehend thieves without inquiring as to whether reporting individual owned or resided in property involved. We have informed PSB of our satisfaction with this prompt action and our hope that police will respond similarly should other cases occur. We made clear that we consider PSB fully responsible for police protection US Government-owned property in Nanking.
Sent Department, repeated Shanghai 1210, Peiping 381.
- People’s Liberation Army (Communist).↩