124.93/9–1549: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Strong) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 16—7:47 p. m.]
Cantel 1109. Chief of Administrative Section of FonOff yesterday dwelt at length on dissatisfaction of Chinese Government with its contacts with Embassy since had moved personnel to Hong Kong. He was very insistent that we return to Canton, with at least skeleton staff, [Page 712] saying current situation was highly anomalous. He cited several delays and inconveniences over important matters and stated that in these difficult times contact should be possible with Embassy at all hours. He regretted US Government unwillingness accept FonOff assurances of security of Embassy personnel Canton and of ample notice should situation deteriorate. He seemed feel Embassy coat of arms was only reluctantly installed over USIS building entrance Shameen.
This is third or fourth time he has raised question but on this occasion he made it a major subject of conversation and a real issue. Acting Foreign Minister also dwelt briefly on subject earlier.
I assured him that no one was more aware of disadvantages and discomforts of our juxtaposition than we were; that many items of business were delayed by our distance from Canton; that confusion could occur on complicated issues from the necessity for using different Embassy officer to travel to Canton during any given week; that frequent trips to Canton were debilitating in the current heat; that after making a trip to Canton I often was obliged to work until midnight catching up on the day’s business, and as a matter of personal importance to me, if some officers in the Department did not understand the handicaps under which we were working and thus the delays and errors which could easily ensue, my own reputation would suffer.
I also informed him that the decision to move to Canton Hong Kong] was based on sound judgment at the time; that the move having been made, it was no simple matter to reverse the decision; that we were not violating British hospitality in that all our business with the Chinese Government was conducted on Chinese soil; that we were available by telephone in Hong Kong and could upon occasion set up an out-of-schedule flight by Attaché plane (we have average 4 flights a week to Canton, by commercial plane on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and remainder by Air Attaché plane taking off 9 in the morning and returning to Hong Kong on 4 p. m. flight). I then advised him that return to Canton with a skeleton staff would not materially improve matters in view of the communications problem that would ensue; if we were to return to Canton we would have to do so prepared to leave on a few hours’ notice; we could not re-establish our radio station, telegrams to the US and even Hong Kong were very expensive, so that it would then be more practical to have a daily courier by air to carry radio traffic back and forth and that frequently such a procedure would entail even greater delays and inefficiencies than were being created now; that we had certain administrative functions which made it difficult to cut staff below its present level until, say, a move was made to Chungking where we could use the Consular staff as an administrative unit.
He recognized the validity of the arguments but insisted that the prime function of the Embassy was its relations with Chinese Government [Page 713] and that Chinese Government was not satisfied. I stated that his views would be reported to Department but that I did not feel it possible to recommend to Department a return to Canton with reduced staff; despite confidence I felt that Canton would be held for some time and that there would be no local turnover.
I do feel that-in near future we should make some small concession to Chinese Government susceptibilities in matter. It can be stated with reasonable confidence that any threat of local turnover has been negated and that military fronts to north and east offer no immediate threat to Canton. Thus it seems that to mollify Chinese Government we might after waiting, say, 1 week, have an Embassy officer spend 3 consecutive days in Canton followed by another officer who would spend the next 3 days, and continue this procedure for some time until there has been sufficient lapse of time to determine future course. Thus would not commence to return to Canton, would answer Chinese Government argument re availability of Embassy at all times, would entail little increase in commuting and communication crews and would not throw entire burden on one officer. Adequate quarters and food are available on Shameen. Procedure indicated would also greatly enhance our coverage of Chinese affairs, which must necessarily be spotty under present circumstances and our contacts, which are now very limited, would usefully be extended. As it is, on each trip we have only about 5 hours in which to carry on all activities, and most officers are unavailable during 3 of those hours.
Request Department consider foregoing recommendation in light of this rather lengthy exposition and reply at as early date as possible.
Sent Department, repeated Hong Kong 49.