893.01/8–349: Telegram
The Consul at Tsingtao (Hawthorne) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 3—8:44 a. m.]
394. Reference Depcirtel June 22.91 Basis persistent local propaganda dispensed meetings inhabitants required attend, not believed [Page 1137] Communists either desire or expect US Government recognition. Nor are they believed interested trade with US. Anti-American propaganda awakening latent anti-foreign feeling masses and may result physical violence against Americans [and] other occidentals. Expected key members ConGen’s Chinese staff will eventually be forced resign severing only contact ConGen has with Foreign Affairs Section, since officials refuse see me. Except for most fanatic missionaries, believed all local Americans would gladly withdraw if possible and that Communists would welcome their departure. As previously reported, believe we will gradually lose all government property acquired under surplus property agreement92 and may be impossible obtain other office quarters or to transfer radio station.
Under circumstances we wonder whether continued maintenance this ConGen will serve useful purpose.
Sent Department 394; repeated Nanking 222.
- Not printed; it summarized situation of Embassy and Consular establishments in China for information of the various posts in China (893.01/6–2249).↩
- Agreement between the United States and China for the sale of certain surplus war property, signed at Shanghai, August 30, 1946; Department of State, Office of the Foreign Liquidation Commissioner, Report to Congress on Foreign Surplus Disposal, October 1946, pp. 40–45.↩