Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Far East: China, Volume VIII

893.00/4–2549: Telegram

The Ambassador in China ( Stuart ) to the Secretary of State

Nanking , April 25, 1949.
[Received April 25—11:03 a. m.]

863. Min Chit Jih Pao reports meeting of Nanking Provisional Peace Preservation Committee night of April 23: Hu Yi-min and Hu Yi-hung, representatives of East China Bureau of CPLA, made following statement to committee:

(1) CPLA will protect people’s properties and confiscate bureaucratic capital;

(2) After entry of liberated army into city, factories should begin operation as quickly as possible, schools should re-open at early date and shops carry on business;

(3) Pao and chia chiefs are expected to see that residents within their respective areas do not participate in looting;

(4) The Peace Preservation Committee is expected to:

(a) Maintain local order.

(b) Prepare to welcome the PLA.

Committee issued regulations governing maintenance of social order as follows:

(1) Comrades in the former Nanking police force are to voluntarily gather together at the Police Commission this morning. After obtaining letters from the Commission they are to report at the Peace Preservation Committee and await assignment of duty. Otherwise, they Shall be treated as stray bands of soldiers.

(2) Former Nanking People’s Self-preservation Groups and Protective Corps are to be established immediately and shall be responsible for maintenance of social order under the direction of the Police Commission.

(3) All former chu and pao chiefs shall be responsible in leading and assisting in maintenance of social order in their respective chu and pao. Chu and pao chiefs shall be rated in accordance with their accomplishments in maintenance of social order.

(4) Those who gather in a crowd, arm themselves and stage looting shall be killed on the spot.

Sent Department, repeated Canton and Shanghai.

Stuart