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

123 Blackerby, William: Telegram

The Consul at Tsingtao (Hawthorne) to the Secretary of State

Tsingtao, June 4, 1949.
[Received June 4—12:01 a. m.]

242. Blackerby⁵⁶ proceeded ConGen this morning by bicycle relieve Vice Consul Hein⁵⁷ prevented entry by C C⁵⁸ guards on building.⁵⁹ Hein, who has been forcibly detained office past 24 hours, will attempt proceed home on foot after dispatch message, leaving two alien members staff in building maintain communications.

Troops also permitting no ingress-egress British ConGen.

City quiet with curfew from 8 p. m. to 5 a. m., standard time which has been established.

Making every effort contact responsible officials in effort obtain vehicle passes and eliminate interference Consular functions, withdrawal troops US Government property.

Now understand Tan Hsi-lin in command troops here and that mayor has not arrived. Press reports Tan Hsi-lin’s chief of staff is Chao Yi-ting and that Chairman Military Control Committee is Hsiang Ming with Tan Hsi-lin acting as vice chairman.

Sent Nanking 176, repeated Shanghai 94, Department 242.

Hawthorne

56. William W. Blackerby, Consular Clerk at Tsingtao.
57. George M. Hein.
58. Chinese Communist.
59. For information on Chinese Communist occupation of Tsingtao, see telegram No. June 3, from the Consul at Tsingtao, p. 365.