Office of the Historian

893.48/4–245: Telegram

The Chargé in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State

Chungking, April 2, 1945—10 a.m.
[Received April 3—12:37 p.m.]

556. Chinese Minister of Food9 issued statement on March 27 that famine in northern Szechwan (Department’s 505, March 27) is not as serious as reported in press. However, in an editorial in March 31 issue of Communist Hsin Hua Jih Pao it is claimed that famine conditions extend to 26 districts in northwestern Szechwan, that the Government has devised no practicable means of relieving conditions there and that refugees from stricken areas are arriving in Chengtu in great numbers. Bulk of editorial refuting above-mentioned statement of Minister of Food was censored.

Embassy is asking Attaché Service10 in Chengtu to investigate and report.11

Atcheson
  1. Hsu Kan.↩
  2. Richard M. Service, Vice Consul.↩
  3. Report not found in Department files.↩