123 Stuart, J. Leighton: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Stuart)96
820. As indicated in Deptel 81997 you are to depart from Nanking on Jul 18 for Okinawa.
[Page 782]Pres and I desire that upon arrival Okinawa you proceed thence to Canton for brief visit since you have been so long out of touch with govt to which you are accredited. You will leave in Okinawa all passengers including Philip Fugh and you will proceed to Canton alone with Air Attaché and crew. It is understood that B–17 will be available in Hong Kong or Canton on which you can return via Okinawa to U.S. You should depart on B–17 on Jul 23 (Hong Kong time). I wish you to know but I do not wish info communicated to any Chinese and to no one except Jones and Clark that Depts White Paper on China is scheduled be made available to press on Jul 23 Wash time for publication morning of Jul 25 Wash time and therefore it is imperative that you will have taken off for US by time its release to press.
It is equally imperative that effect of issuance of this White Paper be in no way confused or diminished by any other press statement either while you are in Canton or en route to US. Therefore I wish you to instruct all members of your party to refrain from giving any interviews or indulging in any conversations which by any chance could indirectly result in interviews and when questioned by the press you will in accordance with Depts suggestion contained in its 510 to Nanking Apr 2298 merely state that you are returning to US to report to Secy of State and that until you have done so you have no statement to make. As you are aware particular care will have to be taken during your overstops in Honolulu and San Francisco.
It is obviously highly desirable that in your visits with officials of ChiGovt in Canton you vouchsafe no info or views but indicate that you have come to Canton to acquaint yourself with views of ChiGovt prior to returning to Wash. Same applies equally to your contact with such of your foreign diplo colleagues as are now residing in Canton.