893.01/7–2949
The Minister-Counselor of Embassy in China (Clark) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 11.]
Sir: I have the honor to enclose certain information regarding the present composition and future plans of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In summary, it might be said that 15 of the 41 persons of the rank of Section Chief or above have left the Ministry without replacement [Page 465] since June 1. Adding resignations which will take place before the capital moves, it appears that less than half of the Officer personnel and an even smaller percentage of the clerical personnel who came here from Nanking will be with the Ministry at the next capital.
Although all foreign diplomatic offices in Canton were asked over a month ago to send advance parties to Chungking, the Ministry itself has sent only one minor official to that city. Three Senior Officers and all of the Ministry’s important files have been sent to Taiwan. The Ministry had previously told half of its personnel that they would go to Chungking when the capital moved, with the other half to go to Taipei, but it now appears that plans to establish the next capital in Chungking have been virtually abandoned. Although final arrangements have not yet been made, it seems that the Ministry’s next working address will be Taipei.
Despite disorganization resulting from poor working conditions, lack of adequate files, the losses of personnel cited above, and the lack of interest and ineptitude on the part of many of the personnel remaining, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is generally considered the most efficient remaining portion of the Chinese Government. (End summary)
[Here follows detailed report on personnel, plans, and recent sojourn at Canton.]
Respectfully yours,