893.801/7–2049
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Chinese Affairs (Sprouse)
[Washington, July 21, 1949.]
At a meeting this morning, attended by Ambassador Jessup,45 Mr. Fisher,46 Mr. Butterworth and Mr. Sprouse, the following decision [Page 1123] was reached with respect to the reply to be made to the British Government’s inquiry regarding the delivery of essential supplies to Shanghai, as set forth in the attached aide-mémoire handed by Mr. Meade of the British Embassy to Mr. Butterworth on July 20:47
- 1.
- The United States Government cannot join in arrangements for the delivery of supplies to Shanghai as suggested in the British Embassy’s aide-mémoire.
- 2.
- The United States Government suggests that the British Government consider the desirability, in whatever action it may take in this matter, of avoiding any inference to the Chinese Government of recognition of a “blockade” of Chinese ports. This could be achieved by indicating to the Chinese Government, in any approach that might be made to the Chinese authorities, that, while the British and Chinese Governments’ views of the legality of the order for the closure of Chinese ports differ, the British Government desires to avoid any incidents in connection with the delivery of relief supplies to Shanghai; the British Government also wishes to receive assurances from the Chinese Government that any British ships engaged in this operation not be subject to any measures, such as bombing attacks, which would endanger the ships or members of their crews.
- 3.
- The United States Government holds the view that, if the British Government should undertake the delivery of these supplies to Shanghai, it should do so as a temporary emergency measure for relief purposes and without prejudice to the discussions between our two Governments of the larger problem of relations with the Chinese Government and questions relating to the Chinese Communists.48