Office of the Historian

125.991H/9–649: Telegram

The Vice Consul at Kunming (Lutkins) to the Secretary of State

Kunming, September 6, 1949—10 a. m.
[Received September 6—1:57 a. m.]

148. Reurtel 25, 4th.59 Decision to leave Kunming awaits developments South China (refDeptel 61, August 12,60 repeated Canton 558). Am making no plans to leave this time since do not expect turn over near future.

CNAC, CAT and CATC received orders no flights in or out of Kunming September 5 and 6; awaiting orders re operations thereafter. Air France operating as usual. CAT leaving five Americans here and hopes continue operations though abandoning Kunming as major service base.

Situation quiet. Unable get definite information re reported Nationalist military movements but seems to be crisis arising from efforts Nationalist Government to force Lu Han off fence. Two provincial delegates sent Chungking to discuss matter with Generalissimo.61 Believe clash unlikely and that crisis will pass with compromise probably giving Central Government more power.

Sent Department; repeated OffEmb Hong Kong 56, Chungking 4.

Lutkins
  1. Not found in Department of State files.↩
  2. Same as telegram No. 62 to Chungking, p. 1314.↩
  3. Chiang Kai-shek who retired as President on January 21, 1949.↩