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

125.0093/1–2949: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State ¹⁸

Nanking, January 29, 1949—3 a. m.
[Received 6:26 a. m.]

268. Those officers Chancery, Service Attachés remaining Nanking after transfers contemplated Deptels 104, January 26¹⁹ and 112, January 28 [27]²⁰ and who still have wives, children Manila awaiting further travel orders, now desire on individual basis bring their families back to Nanking immediately. Their reasoning generally is based following:

(1) Danger that Nanking would be stoutly defended by Nationalists appears from best military advice to have diminished substantially with Generalissimo’s²¹ withdrawal and Nationalist troop movement through Nanking to points south.

(2) Danger of civil disturbances not materialized in Mukden, Tientsin or Peiping;

(3) Time limit use site near Manila coming up soon and uncertainty future there considered outweigh possible risks Nanking in own homes;

(4) Men designated remain Nanking feel will be here some time and chances bringing in families after Communist occupation Nanking, in light pattern Communist behavior north, very doubtful. Having in mind Department’s position as expressed in late November, I have told all officers I consider this a matter for their personal decision and will raise no objection to their making their own individual arrangements for bringing their families back (see Embtel 265, January 28²²). This they are doing. Since return on relatively large scale (approximately 50 women and children Nanking) would undoubtedly be construed as having political implications at time when Chinese Government is leaving capital, American Minister and staff proceeding Canton, and Nanking on eve of siege or capture by Communists, feel I must report this move Department.

Sent Department 268, repeated Shanghai 119, Manila 14.

Stuart

18. The Ambassador reported in telegram No. 269, January 29, that “Mytel 268, January 29 refers Deptel 1691, November 23”; for latter, see Foreign Relations, 1948, vol. viii, p. 892.
19. Vol. viii, “Successive moves of the Embassy office in China …”.
20. Not printed.
21. Chiang Kai-shek, who retired as President on January 21 in favor of Vice President Li Tsung-jen as Acting President.
22. Not printed; it reported that Second Secretary Ralph N. Clough and Assistant Attaché Josiah W. Bennett had decided to return their families from Manila to Nanking immediately at their own expense (123 Clough, Ralph N). See quotation in third paragraph of telegram No. 328, February 7, 4 p. m., from the Ambassador, p. 1226.