893.655/12–1245: Telegram
The Consul General at Tientsin (Myers) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:20 p.m.]
27. [To Embassy:] No wool has been returned to Karagheusian. Instead Chinese military are putting spinning department in operation (your telegram No. 2137 of December 11, 10 a.m.). Company not interested in lease arrangement but might be willing to manufacture blankets or other woven materials on contract basis. Local management instructed by head office not to take formal possession of premises except with full contents.
Presumption is that Chinese military here are seeking to consume all possible raw materials prior to releasing property to owners for which they may already have received instructions from Chungking and which are being ignored. War Transportation Board is continuing removal of spare motorcar parts from Frazar premises and has not returned parts already removed.
Both General Chiang Shih-yi and War Transportation Board informed today substance of Embassy’s arrangement with Chinese Foreign [Page 1419] Minister and request for return of goods removed was reiterated. Simultaneously the Mayor has been requested to maintain present status of his “accommodative procedure” necessitated by instructions from Executive Yuan mentioned in my telegram No. 26 of December 7, 4 p.m. These instructions were published in local press prior to the receipt of the Mayor’s note to me.
Sent to Chungking; repeated to the Department.