123 Ward, Angus I: Telegram
The Consul General at Peiping (Clubb) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 10—6:16 a. m.]
1707. Following text letter sent October 8:
“General Chou En-lai, Peiping:
Sir: The receipt is acknowledged your letter of October 1, 1949, stating: (Letter as given Contel 1665, October 2, from ‘Mao Tze-tung’ through ‘all countries of the world’ excepting that ‘proclamation’ was substituted for ‘public statements’ given in this office’s first translation).
I promptly forwarded your letter and its enclosure to my Government as requested.
I take this opportunity to bring to your personal attention that the American Consul General at Mukden, Mr. Angus I. Ward, and his staff have been isolated in the consular compounds at that point since November 1948 for reasons unknown, resulting in the decision of my Government in May of this year to close that office and withdraw its staff; and that, in spite of specific assurances on June 21 from the Mukden authorities to the effect that necessary transportation facilities would be made available, Mr. Ward and his staff have to date been unable to depart. The US Government is deeply concerned with this situation, which is contrary to established principles of international [Page 118] comity and which has been permitted to continue despite representations to the Chinese Communist Military Headquarters, and it is hoped that action will be taken by the concerned authorities promptly to rectify that situation. Respectfully yours, O. Edmund Clubb”.
Letter was accompanied by unofficial Chinese language translation being forwarded Department by despatch.
Recommend no publicity at least for that part letter dealing with Mukden until Chou has been given opportunity act.