Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Far East: China, Volume VIII

124.93/8–1949: Telegram

The Chargé in China (Clark) to the Secretary of state

Canton, August 19, 1949.
[Received August 19—1:11 a. m.]

Cantel 990. Following statement released to press at 0100 Gmt,⁷² this date.⁷³

“In view of the present Communist threat to this region, the American Embassy is evacuating its staff to Hong Kong. Officers of the Embassy, however, will commute daily to Canton to carry out their normal duties so long as the situation permits.

“The American Consulate General, in accordance with instructions from the Department of State, will close today and begin evacuation of its American staff. Consular officers, however, will be available to assist American citizens to evacuate and to perform for them essential consular services as long as possible. Thereafter the American Consulate General at Hong Kong will assume the functions of this Consulate General.”

Clark

72. Greenwich mean time.
73. This press release had been cleared with the Department on August 17.