Office of the Historian

125.633/5–2149: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul General at Peiping (Clubb)62

Washington, June 3, 1949—7 p. m.

351. Ur 876 May 21. In view Commie non-reply ur letter PLA Headquarters and non-action request travel permits Manhard, Armstrong, Dept desires you obtain personal interview highest ranking member Alien Affairs Bureau available. You should outline orally steps which you have already taken requesting that facilities be granted Ward to permit closing of office Mukden and withdrawal of staff and call attention to non-receipt any reply [from] Commies. You should reiterate this request and add that you have been instructed by your Govt to state that it takes a most serious view of this matter and to request that you be informed at once of the steps which the Commie authorities are taking in order that Ward and staff may depart from Mukden.

Dept desires above action be taken in light of info from Emb reporting informal conversation with Director Alien Affairs Bureau indicating Alien Affairs Bureau Peiping proper channel.

For ur info and such use as you may consider desirable in connection foregoing, delivery by CalTex of tanker fuel oil for Shanghai Power Company has been approved. If use made this info, Dept believes it desirable avoid any suggestion horse-trading which might lead Commies consider pressure on U.S. Consulates profitable means obtain supplies from U.S.

Dept suggests Shanghai also review Mukden situation with appropriate Commie authorities who probably more impressed essentiality fuel oil for SPC63 than Peiping Commies.

Webb
  1. Repeated to the Ambassador in China as No. 669 and to the Consul General at Shanghai as No. 1122.↩
  2. Shanghai Power Co.↩