893.01/12–349: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Strong) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 3—3:19 a. m.]
Cantel 1322. Embassy on December 2 placed diplomatic visa on laisser-passer issued by Foreign Minister Yeh in favor President Li, his wife, and his 11-year-old son. Yeh stated he unable issue diplomatic passports to President and Mrs. Li simply because office of special commissioner at Hong Kong had none in stock. He then went on to [Page 620] express resentment at report that had been spread about that he would refuse to issue travel documents to President and family, stoutly maintained he was neither a Li man nor a Generalissimo man, and asserted he had not consulted with Generalissimo nor had been consulted by Generalissimo with regard travel documentation for Li.
We assured him that American officials had no part in spreading any rumors of foregoing nature.
Sent Department Cantel 1322, Hong Kong by hand.