793.00/1–2150: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consulate General at Shanghai
127. Dept has read urtel 346 Jan 21 with considerable interest and agrees the possible importance these reports warrants attempt authenticate them. Dept also agrees that position of ConGen and other Amer Govt personnel wld be seriously jeopardized by involvement in any negots, commitments or any but most circumspect contact with informant. Dept leaves to discretion ConGen mode obtaining further evidence of Chen’s attitude which, if he has anxious interest indicated, shld be provided without undue involvement of ConGen. Dept endorses completely ConGen’s view that authenticity being established, ConGen shld divest itself all connection with subj. At that time it shld be pointed out to Chou that matter is one in which ConGen cannot be involved and that locale of further contact shld be shifted to Hong Kong without delay.
In view extreme delicacy this matter it is at this stage being handled only by high officers in this Dept. and you shld mark later msgs “Eyes only for Secretary”.