Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Far East: China, Volume VIII

121.5493/10–2749: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Second Secretary of Embassy in China (Bacon), at Nanking

Washington, October 31, 1949—1 p. m.

1197. Re final sentence ur 2316 Oct 27, full publicity given this case in Secy’s press conference Oct 26.⁸ ConGen Peiping instructed protest detention, which will be done soonest practicable time.

Acheson

8. Press release No. 825, “Obstructions in issuance of exit permits in Communist-occupied China”, was made public at this conference. It said in part: “The Department takes a serious view of the flimsy pretext used by the local authorities to prevent departure of an American official from China in contravention of generally recognized principles of international law. The United States Government does not countenance negotiations under duress and will not authorize its representatives in China to submit to such pressure.”