711.93/2–647: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State

214. Following statement released by Embassy press officer at 2 p.m. (0600 GMT) 6th:

“The American Ambassador, Dr. J. Leighton Stuart, has notified the Chinese Government and the Chinese Communist Party delegation in Nanking today that the United States Government would furnish assistance until March 5th to effect the return of authorized Communist personnel to reasonably accessible Communist areas and the return of National Government field team personnel to the stations of their origin.

The Ambassador also has made clear that any of the above personnel who remain after March 5th at their present locations would do so on their own responsibility so far as the United States Government is concerned.

The United States Government’s offer of assistance for the return of Communist personnel pertains to those directly assigned to Executive Headquarters plus some 150 Communist personnel in Shanghai, Nanking and Chungking.”

Stuart