Office of the Historian

119.2/6–1749: Telegram

The Minister-Counselor of Embassy in China (Clark) to the Secretary of State

Canton, June 17, 1949—12 a. m.
[Received 10:33 a. m.]

Cantel 605. Résumé China net[work] origin requested Embtel 538, June 15, repeated Department 1289, Shanghai 700.

Established late 1944 joint OWI74–Army project as OWI–PRO net. Army public relations wanted net facilitate coverage China theater by accredited war correspondents whose only outlet to States was Chungking, Kunming commercial facilities. Net delivered correspondents’ stories to points where commercial facilities available. OWI utilized net link its China offices for administration traffic, later added news facilities. Original equipment supplied by Signal Corps, which also authorized frequencies as part its net. First circuit Chengtu, Chungking. Later expanded connect all OWI offices free China.

When war ended, extended cover all major cities where OWI offices established. After OWI merged Department, stations added all consular posts China. All equipment after original installation and all personnel came from OWI resources. Continued operate until early 1946 as part Signal Corps net, in that Signal Corps authorized all frequencies call signs and cleared frequencies, etc., with Chinese Government as integral part its own radio operations China. Same frequencies call signs still in use.

When China theater deactivated, Gen. Marshall75 arranged Executive Headquarters assume same responsibility when Chinese Government concerned. Nationalist Government after 1946 many times raised question networks operation through Ministry Communications, then Foreign Office, on grounds infringement national sovereignty, commercial facilities available and fact US refused China reciprocal [Page 1092] privilege. Matter resolved high level discussions each time, basis view American effort Executive Headquarters and later aid programs that we required special facilities provide speedy communications Embassy and Consulate and commercial facilities inadequate. Marshall–Generalissimo76 conversation finally required end most pressure on US cease operation.

No formal agreements ever made, and net operation since VJ Day77 been on flimsy basis noted above.

Sent Nanking 405, repeated Department Cantel 605, Shanghai 345.

Clark
  1. Office of War Information.↩
  2. General of the Army George C. Marshall, Special Representative of President Truman in China, December 1945–January 1947.↩
  3. President Chiang Kai-shek, who retired on January 21.↩
  4. September 2, 1945.↩