893.00/5–1849: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cabot) to the Secretary of State
[Extracts]
Shanghai, May 18,
1949—1 p. m.
[Received May 19—1:51 p. m.]
[Received May 19—1:51 p. m.]
1700. Signs now point increasing likelihood early Nationalist abandonment Shanghai defense:
- 1.
- According source close to Yang Hu, General L. S. Chou, head Political Section Nanking–Shanghai–Woosung Garrison and incidentally son-in-law of Yang, has just told Yang [that] Tang En-po now prepared withdraw troops in week (Chou previously quoted Tang as boasting would hold city 1 to 2 months); that Tang will shortly hit local merchants for final withdrawal bribe but in smaller sum than originally planned; that Tang has ordered troops refrain fighting in city proper; that he even agrees leave police and few regiments behind to keep order. Source also states that special service troops and demolition units have been withdrawn from [former] international settlement [and] concession areas. Source feels Generalissimo must have approved this changed attitude which source attributes to reluctant realization (a) impossibility resist Communists more than week or so and (b) unwisdom antagonize foreign interests by senseless fighting, destruction.
- 2.
- Mayor (strong Tang man) on May 16 confided to W. W. Yen his expectation early end battle and his readiness [garble] mayor to look after civilian populace. Asked Yen’s advice how gain support Chinese and foreign population in order avoid appearance being traitor. He was advised first to get some authoritative Chinese civic body to ask [Page 330] him stay and then seek foreign cooperation (remytel 1668 to Department May 1628).
. . . . . . .
Sent Nanking 940; repeated Department 1700, OffEmb Canton 480.
Cabot
- Not printed.↩