124.933/8–1949: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Jones) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 19—8:47 a. m.]
1838. Following is text of dismissal notice handed each of 8 USIS employees (Embtel 1825, August 18):
“It is with regret must inform you owing obligatory closure USIS public activities by Nanking MCC,61 Embassy unable make use your services after September 3 which to be considered your termination date.
In accordance permanent policy US Government, preference will be given in new employment in future to former employees whose record and relations with Embassy have been satisfactory to the Government. Those whose employment interrupted by Japanese war know this has been actual practice. For protection such employees, Embassy setting up preferred list of Chinese staff who qualify and who must be separated for reasons beyond Embassy’s control. This list will be made available to all American Consulates and other US Government agencies which may need to employ at any time additional Chinese staff. In case employment sought from private American firms or international organizations functioning in China, such employees may also refer prospective employer to preferred list.”
Employees Committee has not yet presented demands but we expect take following initial bargaining position:
- (1)
- Any employee may stand on existing terms employment and upon separation now or later will be entitled accrued leave pay and retirement accumulations with interest.
- (2)
- Dissatisfied employees will be considered to have renounced US Government provisions for separation in toto and must negotiate for Communist-sponsored 1 to 3 months’ severance allowance in place of, and not in addition to, US Government provisions.
- (3)
- Except possibly in case of employees paid less than US $50 monthly and employed less than 1 year, employees who unwilling honor their agreement with US Government cannot be considered have satisfactory record or relation with Government and therefore ineligible preferred list.
Senior employees appear to have already decided independently that they wish to have nothing to do with Communist-encouraged group. One has already offered resignation in fear his claim to full pension next year may be jeopardized. This split in ranks has had good effect in impressing on all personnel that US Government separation provisions and policy are (at least in normal circumstances) infinitely superior to Communist counterparts.
Sent Department, repeated Canton 781, Shanghai 1016.
- Military Control Commission.↩