123 Gleysteen, Culver: Telegram
The Consul at Dairen (Paddock) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 24—11:57 a. m.]
154. Reference Soviet Foreign Office note regarding Gleysteen detention (Moscow telegram 1308, May 20), Department will recall long confusion regarding boundary of PA naval base area and Dairen city. [Page 881] Claim that Rokotan area is in base (made now for first time so far as Consul aware, Contel 141, May 10) again advances boundary considerably.
Note that Rokotan not isolated village, people of Dairen accept it as part of their city and it is serviced by Dairen streetcars; along chief route to it one never leaves built-up section of city. No barriers or other indication of base boundary. Doubtful if possible go there from base proper except through Dairen municipal center.
Aside from political significance, this subject is important to Consul since Rokotan and Fukusho (on coast between Rokotan and neck of peninsula) are only two beaches and picnic places left to Americans.
Attempts of Consul get identification cards and driving licenses from Chinese police, as suggested by Levushkin Contel 120 April 26, never answered. We still without proper identification.
Consulate’s officers will not go again to Rokotan or Fukusho until Department gives permission but it hoped Department will soon do so even though this leads to possibility of detention. Throughout incident Soviets have acted in wrong, have misstated facts, and now note officially repeats serious charge of Gleysteen signaling and ignores his detention and questioning for 2 hours after identification as Consulate officer.
Repeated Nanking 111, Canton 55, Moscow 90.