Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Far East: China, Volume VIII

123 Ward, Angus I.: Telegram

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

Peiping, November 4, 1949.
[Received November 4—5:16 a. m.]

1910. Text letter November 3 Ward case follows:

“In my letter of October 8, 1949,⁴¹ I brought to your attention the matter of the isolation, since November 1948, of the American consular compounds at Mukden, of Consul General Angus I. Ward and his entire staff. Under instructions of my Government, I would now invite your attention to the circumstance that, according to information received from a member of the Mukden staff, Mr. Ward, Foreign Service clerk Ralph Rehberg, and mechanic Shiro Tatsumi, and alien employees Franco Cicogna and Alfred Kristan, were removed by police on October 24 on the charge that they had assaulted one of the Chinese personnel of that office. It was stated by the police at the time that they would be held for 2 or 3 days.

“It is requested that I be supplied with authoritative information regarding the matter in point for transmission to my Government. It is requested particularly that I be informed whether Mr. Ward and the other consular employees are still held, if so, where. I invite your attention to the fact that the personnel in question have been isolated in their compounds under guard since November 20, 1948. As a consequence, the United States Government decided in May of this year to close the American Consulate General at that point, which fact I communicated to the General Headquarters of the People’s Liberation Army in a communication of May 19, 1949. Mr. Ward was appropriately instructed at the same time by the Department of State. The Mukden authorities, through the director of the Alien Affairs Office, on June 21 informed Mr. Ward that he and his staff would be permitted to depart Mukden with moveable property, and that upon the presentation of lists of staff and property to be evacuated, railway transportation would be provided. Mr. Ward was asked to designate the departure date for staff and property.

“Mr. Ward on July 19 notified the authorities that 13 of his staff were prepared to depart on July 27, the others to remain behind until there had been completed arrangements for the packing and shipment of effects. That request was renewed on August 12, with the departure date fixed for August 17. Those transportation facilities were, in fact, not provided. On September 3, after completion of packing, Mr. Ward sent a formal letter to the Mayor of Mukden requesting rail transportation to Peiping and Tientsin for himself and staff and dependents, excepting persons left behind in custodial capacity, with their baggage and American Government property. To date those facilities have not been provided by the Mukden authorities.

“In short, the Mukden authorities have continued to refuse, without explanation or extenuating circumstances, to abide by their assurances of June 21 or even to indicate their intentions. Acting again under instruction of my Government, on September 22, 1949, I sent a letter to Commander in Chief Chu Teh⁴³ in respect to the matter in point, requesting that appropriate measures be taken to cause the Mukden authorities to extend promptly the transportation facilities required for the removal from Mukden of the personnel of the Consulate General and their personal and official effects. In my reference letter of October 8, I took occasion to indicate the grave concern with which the United States Government regarded the arbitrary action of detention by the local authorities of American consular officials at Mukden and the continued failure of the Mukden authorities to provide facilities for withdrawal even after giving express assurances.

“The latest developments render more urgent still the taking of appropriate action to bring the matter to a speedy settlement. It is noted particularly that Mr. Ward and the others charged with the assault were, at the time of the alleged offense, still in close guard, and that they have had no opportunity to report their version of the incident. And, be it noted, the present development follows upon the action of the Mukden authorities in detaining for nearly 1 year the American and non-American personnel of the Consulate General at that point under close guard, which action was in the first instance said to be because of the need [of] according them ‘protection’, in clear violation of established principles of international comity and practice respecting treatment of foreign consular officials. It is requested that this matter be brought to the attention of the highest authorities to the end that there shall promptly be taken appropriate measure to bring this matter to a speedy settlement. It is requested particularly that the British Consular Representative at Mukden be given the opportunity to see Mr. Ward and the other persons charged with assault, if they are still detained by the police, that the matter be handled in accord with established principles of international law and practice respecting treatment of foreign consular officials, and that the promised transportation facilities for removal from Mukden of the personnel of the Consulate General with their personal and official effects be provided. In view of the serious nature of this matter and the widespread concern it has caused in the United States, I would emphasize my request for prompt action.

“I take this opportunity to inform you of the recent closure of the American consular offices located in Tihwa, Hankow and Dairen and the impending closure of the office at Tsingtao.⁴⁵ The office at Mukden will be formally closed as soon as feasible. The British consular authorities in those several points have taken over, or will take over at the time of closure of the related American consular offices, matters pertaining to American interests.”

Clubb

41. See telegram No. 1707, October 10, 3 p. m., from the Consul General at Peiping, vol. ix, p. 117.
43. See telegram No. 1601, September 23, from the Consul General at Peiping, p. 979.
45. For documentation concerning the closure of Consulates at Tihwa, Hankow and Tsingtao, and Dairen, see pp. 1303 ff., pp. 1122 ff., and pp. 860 ff., respectively.