124.931/4–2849: Telegram
The Consul General at Peiping (Clubb) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 30—5:01 a. m.]
730. Following is the text of my communication of April 27 to the Commander-in-Chief of the People’s Liberation Army:
“General Chu Teh, Commander in Chief, Sir: Under instructions from my Government, I invite your attention to the circumstances that there has occurred at Nanking the violation of the American Ambassador’s residence at 6:45 a. m. April 25 by members of the Chinese Communists’ armed forces. The circumstances of that violation are as set forth below.
At the indicated hour 12 armed Chinese Communist soldiers caused the Chinese porter to open the front gate of the compound. The soldiers entered the back door of the Ambassador’s residence, asked the servants how many Chinese and foreigners lived in the residence, and where the Ambassador was. When they were informed where the Ambassador was, the soldiers went up to the second floor of [the residence?] and entered the American Ambassador’s bedroom. The first soldier to enter the room spoke in loud and angry tone. Those soldiers who followed the first one were more civil and said that they had come to ‘look around’. They wandered about the bedroom inspecting the contents and making remarks to the effect that all this would eventually go to the people to whom it should belong anyway.
The soldiers prevented the Ambassador’s secretary, Mr. Edward Anderberg, from entering the Ambassador’s bedroom and forced him back into his own room at the point of a gun. They inspected his room and asked his nationality, after which they inspected other bedrooms. They then left the house and compound. No other houses in the compound were visited.
Since the above reported violation of the residence of the American Ambassador by armed Chinese Communist soldiers was in clear contravention of established international law and custom and in full disregard of the courtesy always due an Ambassador, I have been instructed by the United States Government to bring the matter to the attention of the highest Chinese Communists’ authorities at Peiping and to enter strong protest against that violation.
In view of the reputation of the People’s Liberation Army for strict discipline, and particularly in light of the specific assurance given in item 6 of the Proclamation of April 24 [of?] the Political Section of the East China area headquarters of the People’s Liberation Army that embassies and consular establishments would be protected—which assuredly must mean that they will be accorded the type of treatment and protection due them by international law and custom–it is presumed that the action [mentioned?] must have been without the authorization of the command of [the People’s] Liberation Army and it is requested that your headquarters take prompt action to the end that the matter shall be appropriately adjusted and that similar unfortunate incidents of violating of American diplomatic immunity shall not occur in future.
[Page 731]I should appreciate receiving an early reply for communication to my Government. Signed American Consul General.”