293.1111/9–451: Circular telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic Offices 1
220. Pls hand fol msg to FonMin:
“US Govt has been viewing with increasing concern the harsh and unjustified treatment of Amer natls by the Chi Commie auths. There are at this time more than 20 Amer cits imprisoned in China, the majority of whom have been under arrest for 6 months or more. One has died in prison and several are believed to be in great physical or econ distress. There are approx 30 Amer natls under what is known as ‘house arrest’. A nr of others have for a varying period of 2 years or more been consistently refused permission to leave China, a condition which is tantamount to forced detention. Of the persons under arrest, at least some are known to be allowed no communication with anyone outside their prison. In most cases the Chi Commie auths have given no explanation of the arrests or any info concerning the welfare or whereabouts of the persons arrested. Access has been denied to legal counsel and to officials representing Amer interests in Commie China. It is our understanding that there are a nr of natls of [Page 1798] other powers who have undergone similar treatment at the hands of the Chi Commie auths.
“US Govt has anxiously awaited signs that the arbitrary arrests of Amers wld cease and that those under detention wld be afforded the basic and well-recognized rights of reasonable opportunity for communication with relatives and friends, access to legal counsel, disclosure of charges against them, and of responsible adjudication of their cases. However, long-continued denial of these rights and absence of the prospect that they will soon be granted have obliged this Govt to seek some extraordinary means for their relief.
“It is upon the basis of the principles generally accepted in internatl relations of the treatment of persons in fon countries, as well as on the ground of common humanity, that the US Govt asks ur Govt to present on its behalf the foregoing facts to the central Chi Commie auths at Peiping, with the request that they provide info concerning these imprisoned Amers and take such steps as may be necessary to afford just and expeditious action on their cases.”
You may inform FonMin that this msg also being sent to FonMins of Great Britain, Swed, Nor, Den, Neth, Switz, Indo, Burm, India, Pak, and USSR.
You may also state that, in view of increasing demand in this country for evidence that urgent action being taken, it may be found necessary later give publicity to present move.
Brit FonOff has offered and Dept has accepted collaboration by Brit mission with Amer colleagues in various capitals, except New Delhi, Bern and possibly Moscow. FYI Brit at Peiping presented own note to Commie auths on behalf fon natls on Sept 1.
- The telegram was sent to the U.S. Embassies in Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen, The Hague, Djakarta, Rangoon, New Delhi, Karachi, and Moscow, and the Legation in Bern.↩