893.01/7–2949: Telegram
The Minister-Counselor of Embassy in China (Clark) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:23 p. m.]
Cantel 847. Tung Ling, Vice Foreign Minister, tells me Cabinet still has under review question removal Chungking when Canton threatened. No decision has been reached but Tung expressed his conviction government would at least nominally move Chungking short period. He ruled out possibility removal capital any other location mainland when Chungking threatened and says government will go Taiwan that time.
Obviously the time-table move Chungking depends Communist military time-table. All evidence points fact Ma Pu-fang’s51 troops badly chewed up west Sian and that troops Hu Tsung-nan52 are not fighting south Paochi. Communist troops which captured Ichang, Shasi have crossed river, captured Changteh and appear be moving westward. It seems only question time when Szechuan will fall. Communists have publicly announced intention capture Canton by August 15.
In view, therefore, what Tung Ling tells me it seems likely at least façade government will move Chungking early August. Fall of Hengyang is mentioned as signal for move.
Sent Department Cantel 847; repeated Nanking 562, Shanghai 468, Taipei 87.