Office of the Historian

893.00/11–3048: Telegram

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

Nanking, November 30, 1948—noon.
[Received November 30—3:10 a. m.]

2364. Should Government move to Canton or elsewhere, I am convinced move will represent effort Generalissimo to give space for time in desperate anticipation increased American military aid. Should he move, it is likely that, motivated almost solely by traditional Chinese official loyalty, those surrounding him who owe him so much will accompany him.

We believe our purposes would be facilitated if in this connection we could be informed of the results of Mme. Chiang’s16 conversations in order that we may pass on, in our discretion, in undiluted form to the ranking officials of the Government and possibly to the Generalissimo, US official reaction to Madame’s pleas.17

Stuart
  1. Wife of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek.↩
  2. See telegram No. 1812, December 13, 3 p. m., to the Ambassador in China, vol. viii , “U.S. Military Assistance to China” (Ch. VII).↩