893.00B/9–1249: Telegram
The Consul General at Tientsin (Smyth) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 13—8:56 a. m.]
726. Communist increasing strictness control here. Chinese doctor, trained in US and one of few Chinese still willing talk (privately and confidentially), states Communists making clear they displeased with Chinese having contacts with foreigners. Chinese showing increasing reluctance contact foreigners. General trend shown by fact Keats Chu, manager large Ten Li Co., whose export business almost entirely with US, just made member committee local Sino-Soviet Friendship Society. Chu, educated US and long special friend Americans, now avoids contacts with Americans and foreigners in general.
Communist control mail growing stricter. No more safe send mail by masters But [terfield &] Swire and Jardine ships allowed. Our mail from Peiping so frequently not received necessary use Americans as couriers.
General controls here much stricter than Peiping. Example, American staff Peiping ConGen able obtain passes visit Tientsin. Here, however, only girl employees able get passes visit Peiping; Brown, McCarthy,24 Rogatnick25 unable get passes.
[Page 1110]Foreigners here subject increasing inconveniences and Communist policy obviously make foreigners lose face. It is growing apparent withholding of exit permits will be used as club over foreigners. New medical examination for applicants’ exit permits extremely strict, unreasonable, and possible exit permits may be refused, if Communists desire, on medical rather than political grounds.
With few exceptions, foreigners here increasingly discouraged over business prospects, as passage time evolves Communists here more following Russian Soviet pattern in all matters.