893.00/10–2149: Telegram
The Consul General at Hong Kong (Rankin) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 24—1:45 p. m.]
910. … Source information by American missionary and Chinese Christian leader, both with wide acquaintance Chinese Shanghai and North China bankers and industrialists presently refugees Hong Kong, that bulk such persons making arrangements return Communist China resume business activities. Fall Canton, impending fall Kweilin and lack confidence in Taiwan Government convinces refugee businessmen impossible Nationalists return power in foreseeable future, if ever. Communist progress formation new government, and news received from private sources Communist China, persuades them that they can have constructive, if not personally profitable, careers under new government. Many these persons have large personal fortunes in Hong Kong and States. Their return not prompted by economic need but rather feeling that they as Chinese should participate in building of “New China”. While they not without apprehension over future, feel constrained proceed as indicated from sense duty to country.
In our opinion this only natural development. Since crossing Yangtze, Kmt18 has been guilty same gross ineptitude as in previous, 3 years, so that Communists succeeding virtually by default. Substantial, able persons mentioned previous paragraph, whose services rejected and advice neglected by Kmt, are increasingly aware they must accommodate themselves to new order, or remain permanently in refugee status. Despite real and implied short and long term dangers in former, they feel this preferable to latter, especially since no other alternatives visible.
Sent Department 910, repeated Shanghai 174, Taipei unnumbered, Department pass. Peiping unnumbered.
- Kuomintang (Nationalist Party).↩