119.2/11–2549: Airgram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the united Kingdom (Douglas)
A–1295. Reference Embassy’s telegram 4706, November 25. In view of the experience at Tihwa the Department is anxious that all possible steps be taken to prevent seizure by Communists of usable United States radio equipment at other posts in China where United States Government property has been or may be in the future placed in British custody.
Since there appears to be no way short of destruction by which the equipment could be made inoperable so that it could not be repaired by the Communists if they should seize it, the Department can see only two alternatives in the disposition of radio equipment at closed posts to prevent the equipment falling into the hands of Commies, viz., (1) destruction (2) sale to British for token payment, or outright donation to British.
Please inform the Department of British reaction to the foregoing alternatives. At the same time, if British agreeable authority hereby granted British to destroy radio equipment left by closed posts or take up as British property. Department would like report on action taken, at each post.
For your further information and possible transmission to the British, insofar as is known the following situation prevails as pertains to radio equipment at closed posts in China.
| Canton | Presumably evacuated. If any such equipment located at Canton follow above instructions. |
| Chungking | Presumably evacuated. If any such equipment located at Chungking follow above instructions. |
| Dairen | Destroyed. |
| Hankow | Stored rooms 318 and 319 former Consular office in Shell House Hankow. |
| Kunming | Presumably evacuated. If any such equipment located follow above instructions. |
| Mukden | Evacuated with ConGen staff. |
| Tihwa | Seized by Communists. |
| Tsingtao | Presumably seized by Communists along with other U.S. Government property. |