740.0011 P.W./5–345: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Hurley) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 4—3:50 p.m.]
718. There are now some 1,800 French and Annamite military personnel and civilian refugees from Indochina in southern Yunnan, of whom 500 are in Mengtze and the balance in Makwan. The United States Army has been offering them such relief in the nature of food, clothing and medical supplies as its facilities permit. Its efforts are being supplemented by those of UNRRA (Embassy’s 695, April 30, 9 a.m.35).
[Page 100]The French Ambassador has called separately on General Wedemeyer and myself to solicit our good offices. Our Army has now agreed to transport by air to interior Burma all the ill, wounded, women and children, and General Pechkoff has given Army Headquarters a signed statement (1) releasing the American Government from responsibility in the event of loss or injury incident to such transportation and (2) agreeing that cost will be a charge against the French Government. A copy of this statement, which is considered satisfactory by our military, will be forwarded by air mail.36
In addition to the above, there are some 500 French military and civilian refugees at Fangcheng, on the Kwangtung coast, whom the United States Army is assisting to make their way overland to Poseh in Kwangsi whence they can proceed by air to Kunming.