125.8576/7–1849: Telegram
The Consul at Shanghai (McConaughy) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 18—2:55 a. m.]
2807. ReConGentel sent Department 2805, repeated Nanking 1581, Canton 893. Following are few points which might be raised in Department statement re Communist closure USIS Shanghai. Believe these points should be amplified and others added which may occur to Department.
Pending results of protest, ConGen suspending USIS operations in Shanghai response Communist closure order. This suspension results purely from coercion and Communist-demonstrated willingness to use force in defiance of international usage and civilized custom; it does not result from any recognition by ConGen of Communist right to stop its activities or any portion of them by intimidation tactics and without any sanction of law. The unfriendly action taken by Communist authorities at Shanghai on July 15 in ordering suspension of all USIS activities there serves to confirm Communist tenet that people are not entitled to know truth. In silencing this, one of few remaining sources of impartial factual news in Communist China, new regime has shown that it cannot afford to permit publication of unbiased news.
This drastic action is more restrictive against USIS than any taken in other parts of world, including Soviet Union and satellite countries of Eastern Europe. Regime would not have taken a step which is certain to prove so embarrassing to it unless it had been convinced of the effectiveness of USIS in forging a bond of understanding between the Chinese and American people, a bond which the Chinese Communists for reasons best known to themselves seem bent upon destroying.
Chinese Communists appear to have decided that the seeds of hatred, vilification, distrust and misunderstanding which they seem [Page 1237] determined to sow among Chinese people will not grow in atmosphere of friendly relations which USIS seeks to cultivate.
It is apparent that promotion of friendliness and understanding tends to defeat totalitarian objectives; the fomenting of hatred better serves Communist purposes.
It is clear that this decision was taken arbitrarily and without consideration of interests of Chinese people. The decision was taken before giving USIS an opportunity to explain work and objects of organization. With characteristic cynicism a Communist official required USIS representative to make detailed explanation of purposes and operations of organization, while all the time official was holding in his hand previously prepared closure order, ready to read it the moment explanation was finished. This condemnation without affording opportunity of defence is characteristic of whole attitude and nature of Communism everywhere. There was no regard for rights and interests of the many thousands of Chinese citizens who have voluntarily availed themselves of USIS informational programs and cultural aids such as libraries and moving pictures. The poisonous fear of everything free has corroded Communist mentality and has constrained regime to ban even purely cultural activities of USIS such as concerts and art exhibits.
Communists by this action have denied the right of Chinese people to freedom of information and freedom to pursue culture, two of generally recognized basic rights of peoples. Pretext for this deplorable action was of flimsiest sort, namely absence of diplomatic relations between US and Chinese Communist regime. Informational and cultural activities have never depended on formal diplomatic relations for their existence and this excuse is irrelevant. Furthermore, the entire free world knows that it is not real reason for closure.
The AmConGen in Shanghai has been instructed to protest emphatically against this unwarranted closure order.
Appreciate text any statement issued Department. Suggest Department might desire instruct ConGen deliver text appropriate local authorities.
Sent Department, repeated Nanking 1583, OffEmb Canton 894, Hankow 55.