Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, The Far East: China, Volume VIII

893.50 Recovery/11–1848

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

Nanking, November 18, 1948—3 p.m.
[Received November 18—7:04 a.m.]

2250. From Deptel Ecato 586, November 13 sent Shanghai, repeated Nanking, it appears Department misinterpreted our 2115, November 6, repeated Shanghai 1044, regarding increased discretion to Lapham for use in emergencies. See also Lapham’s 2240, November 17 to Department, sent from Nanking. All we had envisaged was wide discretion at operational level. We specifically mentioned “authority over diversion ECA shipment”. There was no intention our part usurp prerogatives of Department in respect of high policy decisions.

Sent Department, repeated Shanghai for Lapham from Merchant⁷⁷ as 1124.

Stuart

77. Livingston T. Merchant, Counsellor of Embassy in China.