123 Colling, Guy Thomas: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (McConaughy) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 5—3:40 a. m.]
4682. Re ConGentel 4229, October 10.59 Colling reapplied for rail travel permit to Nanking November 1 and was again officially refused by Public Safety Bureau on November 4. Colling used virtually identical [Page 1296] formula with which Ballachey of Canadian ConGen successful in securing permit and was accompanied by Ernest Tung. In course of application Colling was interviewed at length by higher official of Foreign Affairs section who adopted similar line of questioning previously used with some of our Service Attaches, strongly reminiscent of interrogations of prisoners of war customary during World War II. Obviously official deeply suspicious, being obsessed with espionage idea. While present psychosis of local authorities toward American officials continues, I am convinced that entire US Government staff here effectively prevented traveling outside city limits Shanghai.
Sent Department, Department pass Nanking 2031.
- Not printed.↩