123 Stuart, J. Leighton
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs (Rusk) to the Secretary of State
Mr. Butterworth has recommended the attached telegram38 to Nanking. It instructs Ambassador Stuart to return to the United States for consultation after Communist occupation of Nanking. Mr. Butterworth wishes you to know that his primary purpose in making this recommendation is to help meet the domestic political situation in this country which would be created by leaving Ambassador Stuart in Nanking indefinitely following upon Communist occupation.
Although I have had misgivings about Ambassador Stuart’s remaining in Nanking, I have concurred on the ground that he might be of some use in establishing contacts with and getting information from Communist authorities and might, in addition, offer effective protection to American lives and property in Communist-held areas.
I concur in the attached telegram.
- No. 510, infra.↩