123 Bacon, Leonard Lee: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Jones) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 13—8:32 a. m.]
1777. As reported Embtel 1712, August 4, Bacon complied with recommendation made in Deptel 814, July 11 for him to apply for [Page 900] travel permits himself and wife to proceed Tientsin as first leg on journey to Dairen. This application has met with no success. Alien Affairs Office August 12 again indicated his exit from Nanking must be through Shanghai and stated that no permits are being granted foreigners for overland travel from Shanghai area to North China. To Embassy’s best knowledge, no such permits have been granted. Difficulties confronting foreigners attempting leave China via Shanghai are, of course, already well known.
It being apparent that this effort has failed, we suggest Department now give serious consideration closing Consulate Dairen and withdrawing all staff by most practicable means as stated in Department’s reference telegram. In this connection, we refer also to Moscow telegram 1966, August 6 to Department which suggests that now may be more propitious time to close Consulate Dairen.
We further refer to Depinfotel August 854 which reports that four tankers, presumably either American or British, are now en route Dairen from Constanza. If Consulate is to be closed, we suggest that cheap and effective way to withdraw Paddock and Gleysteen would be on board one of these vessels.
Sent Department 1777, repeated Shanghai 982, Canton 744, Moscow 56, Dairen 49.
Pass Peiping 328.
- Not printed.↩