125.633/4–349: Telegram
The Ambassador in China ( Stuart ) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 3—6:02 a. m.]
697. For reasons set forth mytels 479, February 28 and 644, March 24 and despite cogent arguments to contrary, notably those set forth in Peiping’s 488, March 27 [26] to Department, we still believe that, on balance, our wisest course is to attempt withdrawal our entire staff Mukden Consulate General soon and with maximum publicity. Commie failure to respond by now to Clubb’s two approaches re general treatment Consulates, offices and travel of Man-hard and Armstrong promise that Commies will not respond in future, merely leaving matter suspended in mid-air which is, we might point out, familiar Soviet trick.
We do not agree that withdrawal Mukden staff would necessarily have adverse effect on remaining Consular offices in Commie territory but feel it would more probably have salutary effect by showing Commies we do not intend to do business with them on any basis inconsistent with our sovereign dignity and self-respect. Also, Chinese Commie foreign policy has during past several months so accelerated its trend of hostility toward US as to leave little basis for supposing that with few more months of patience we can solve impasse.
Sent Department, repeated OffEmb Canton 218, Shanghai 325, Peiping 108.