393.1115/8–1549: Telegram
The Consul at Shanghai (McConaughy) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 15—1:32 p. m.]
3244. ReDeptel 1583, August 11, repeated Nanking 945, [re] telCan 550.19 [Garble] Communist authorities have informed APL in writing permission granted for entry and exit General Gordon as requested. Letter states details regarding freight and passengers to be brought Shanghai most important to Communist authorities and should be detailed as soon as available.
As of today total of 1600 applications for passage to San Francisco including 35 Americans of Caucasian race and 48 persons Chinese race mostly American citizens. APL agents strongly of opinion ship should reverse usual route and call here homeward bound in order avoid grave complications regarding passengers and cargo demands for Hong Kong. He asks that Killion, President APL, San Francisco, be informed there is definite danger Communist requisition large part available passenger and cargo space to satisfy their Hong Kong requirements unless route reversed. He urges Killion authorize ship call first [Page 1296] at Manila, then Hong Kong, Shanghai, Kobe in that order. Nearly all outgoing passenger and cargo space Edith Moller 260 net registered tons which sailed last week in defiance blockade was utilized by Communist authorities anxious to get personnel and cargo to Hong Kong.
APL informed by Communists that Gordon may bring any and all Chinese passengers to Shanghai but no foreigners.
Authorities still receiving only 30 exit permits applications daily from foreigners. This includes applications for rail travel within country as well as applications for permits to leave China. Facilities totally inadequate (20 characters garbled) before dawn, persons arriving later 6 a. m. are turned away although office does not open until 9. I am using several indirect personal approaches to Communist authorities in effort to have application procedure simplified and clerical force increased so many more applications can be handled daily.
Henry, President American Association, and I both working in support British effort bring in small coastal vessels (capacity 40–50 passengers each) from Hong Kong periodically. Although British disappointed APL not interested in taking passengers to Hong Kong, they may allocate US and other non-British nationals small number places if Butterfield and Swire and Jardine, Matheson able bring in ships. British still do not like term “evacuation ship”, believing it will have unfavorable psychological effect on Communists. If Gordon does not go from here to Hong Kong, difficulties envisaged by Department should not arise and necessity for playing up foreign evacuation theme will be reduced. If Gordon follows original schedule, I agree we must take every available measure forestall ship being filled with Chinese including, if necessary, announcement all spaces reserved for trans-Pacific passengers returning to homelands. Effective demand for first class accommodations will greatly exceed space available if exit visas forthcoming. I believe we should begin making tentative plans now bring in President Wilson 2 weeks after Gordon.
Communists seem more interested in bringing in industrial cargo already paid for by local firms and diverted Kobe, Hong Kong and elsewhere than in relief supplies such as rice. They have indicated special interest in cotton and chemicals. Undoubtedly rice would be welcome if arrangements for allocation and shipment through commerical channels can be made in short time remaining before Gordon sails San Francisco August 28. American Advisory Committee of Church World Service has 600 tons relief supplies, mostly grain, in Hong Kong awaiting shipment Shanghai which might be brought on Gordon.
Qualified opinion here both naval and merchant marine unanimously of opinion Gordon should not be loaded at Alacrity anchorage or [Page 1297] outside bar. They believe Communists would consider such a sign of distrust an affront to them and would be greatly antagonized. Furthermore what few LSTs are available are in Communist hands (principally BO TRA20) for military purposes and are completely unavailable for transporting passengers or baggage down river. Only very few tenders available, largest carries only 150 passangers and not licensed go beyond Woosung. Tugs for meeting lighters which would be required handle baggage and cargo also very scarce and crews likely refuse work ships down river (Anchises case in point). Transfer passengers probably including many old people, children and women in open roadstead would be exceedingly difficult and dangerous even in moderate swell. Furthermore trip would be quite long, 2 hours being required merely to reach Woosung. Agent considers proposal to load outside bar wholly impractical. He believes Communists will not interfere with departure ship if they give advance authorization to enter port.
AstALUSNA21 has made following comments:
- 1.
- No navigational obstructions (mines, sunken wrecks, etc.) are known to be in Whangpoo or Yangtze channel.
- 2.
- In April military situation entirely dissimilar, i.e. plot to obstruct Whangpoo channel at Woosung as reported to Vice Admiral Badger was means for preventing departure Kmt evacuation shipping from Shanghai (also concomitant embarrassment to foreign naval units present). No purpose military or otherwise now served to block channel and prevent exit General Gordon since blockade is effective from Kmt viewpoint. Guarantees by Nationalists and Communists for safe entry and exit further preclude likelihood of such action.
- 3.
- Even if Communists were to permit APL use their commandeered LSTs, LCIs, etc., it is hardly likely those craft would be permitted pass down Yangtze channel to Alacrity anchorage unmolested by Nationalists’ naval vessels carrying out blockade. Safe guarantees are for General Gordon, not for Communist vessels.
- 4.
- If Vice Admiral Badger has his LSTs available, not likely fervid Communists would permit them enter inland waters of “liberated China”.
While success of plan still far from certain, prospects look somewhat better than they did last week.
AstALUSNA requests CNO and ComNavWesPac be informed.
Sent Department 3244, repeated Nanking 1769, Canton 1010.