793.00/9–550: Telegram
The Consul General at Hong Kong (Wilkinson) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 5—3:06 p. m.]
508. Letter from Ch’en Yi, Shanghai journalist known to Sabin Chase1 (ConGen despatch 275, August 23, 19502) brought ConGen today by Ch’en’s friend. Letter reports following statements made recent Peking conference by Chou En-lai, repeated him by friend who attended Conference. When asked position of China should North Korean troops be pushed back to Manchurian border, Chou replied China would fight enemy outside China’s border and not wait until enemy came in. He added that it would require at least 30 divisions for US to accomplish anything in Korea and at least 300 if enemy wants to try anything in China. Every day China is getting better prepared and has already had more than a year’s preparations in Manchuria, Chou declared. In meantime, Government policy is to nourish existing economic structure and not disturb it further. Important center still Europe, Chou concluded.