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

893.50 Recovery/9–1549: Telegram

The Chargé in China (Strong) to the Secretary of State

Canton, September 15, 1949—5 p. m.
[Received September 15—4:23 p. m.]

Cantel 1110. Foreign Office yesterday stated it most anxious have reply to aide-mémoire submitted by Chinese Embassy Washington August 15 regarding use of some US $90 million remaining unexpected from ECA China funds. Declared that if US Government to help China now is the time; also none too much time remaining in which to use the funds before expiry date next February. I reminded Foreign Office that ECA continuing rationing in Canton and that JCRR putting some millions of dollars into Taiwan and south and west China. Reply was that these were considered as incidentals.

Foreign Office representative commented that recent speech by Roger Lapham⁸⁶ was “most peculiar”. Meiklejohn⁸⁷ promised to see me before returning to US but failed to do so. Thus have no idea what he has in mind.

Sent Department Cantel 1110; repeated Taipei 167.

Strong

86. Formerly Chief of the ECA China Mission. His speech was delivered September 8 before the Commonwealth Club, San Francisco.
87. Norman J. Meiklejohn, Acting Chief of the ECA China Mission.