124.93/5–2549: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 26—2:29 a. m.]
1115. We wish to commend Clark’s excellent analysis Nationalist Government present situation, future moves and express agreement with conclusions reached regarding future OffEmb Canton (see Cantel 404, May 18 to Department, repeated Nanking 296, Shanghai 250). While we had felt Hong Kong offered ready interim refuge US representation Nationalist Government (see Embtel 1023 to Department May 14, repeated Canton 415, Shanghai 573), we agree with reasons so well stated by Canton that OffEmb might equally well be closed when Nationalist Government is forced to evacuate present provisional capital and that we maintain in future our relations with remnants Nationalist Government through Consulates. As suggested in Deptel 215, May 20 to Canton, repeated Nanking 621, Shanghai 1015, Consulate Chungking should be strengthened. Edgar,47 Taipei, may also need assistance.
Under arrangement envisaged above, it is assumed Embassy would remain Nanking and that contact with Nationalist Government could be maintained by it through appropriate Consulates as long as Embassy has access to communication facilities. In a technical sense at least such an arrangement could be said to avoid hiatus diplomatic relations with a Chinese Government.
All indications are that Communists are in no hurry to establish Central Government. We anticipate lapse of several months before there is anything to recognize on national scale even informally on Communist side. Regardless of where PCC48 may be held or [“]government” established, we believe it useful providing of course new authorities permit to maintain Embassy establishment at Nanking after departure Ambassador (ReCantel 337 to Department May 9,49 repeated Nanking 259, Shanghai 217). Physically Embassy to China is in Nanking and it would seem appropriate for remnant of it at least to remain in capital until (1) it can move with deliberateness and facility to new capital, or (2) enter into formal relations with new government in Nanking, or (3) be withdrawn from China altogether after efforts have been made and failed to establish formal friendly relations on de jure basis. There is every indication that even when Chiefs of Mission are withdrawn for consultation respective countries, their staffs will remain and that some kind of diplomatic establishments [Page 693] will continue to be maintained by other powers here. Presumably we would not wish to take unilateral action in closing out our diplomatic establishment in China.
We would be grateful for Department’s views on this problem involving our future arrangements and Department’s plans for Ambassador after period consultation Washington.
Sent Department; repeated OffEmb Canton 464, Shanghai 628.