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12/30/1948 - Personalities U.S. Embassy Staff by Albert Ravenholt

A2 INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Nanking China December Walter S Rogers Institute Curent World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York N Y Dear Mr Rogers Fast radio communications transpacific airline obviatea diplomatic procedure which permitted policy decisions State partment representatives refer major questions Washington D C receive answer within hours But experience personality representatives United States Government still determine information which provides basis decisions They allow flexibility execution already established action At present juncture China regime fading antagonistic normally routine diplomatic intercourse suddenly takes greater meaning Unintentional fumbling damage require years repair With I think worthwhile briefly senior United States Ebassy Nanking To government their actions appear policy United States Government Their behavior pitch future relations The outstanding personality U S diplomatic establishment China Ambassador Dr John Leighton Stuart It would difficult anyone appreciate significant Stuart American actions country The U S Ambassador slender sholar fringe light brown He missionary parents Hangchow China years In spite demonstrates mental physical vigor continues surprise younger assistants Stuart uniquetype westerner China thoroughly absorbea culture mastered history lauguage country Chinese Chinese appointment ambassador July Stuart president Yenching University eiping years During years Pearl Harbor VJ Day presidency largely titular university retreated Chengu West China while Stuart remained Peiping where Japanese placed under house arrest Stuart appointed ambassador General George arshall request while latter seeking negotiate peaceful settlement China civil arshall apparently impressed Stuart enormous understanding China unique position country During theears before Stuart acquired stature views listened respect nation leaders The relationship teacher student remains binding associations China And Stuart teacher marne modern China His relations leaders present Central Government terms their personal association rather official capacity At considerable number younger Chinese Communist leaders Yenching University As American institution Yenching continmed function Peiping after Chinese universities retreated Southwestern provinces When graduates university wanted against Japan simpler ecape Peiping Comunist bases North China Chungking With background experience association Stuart combines fundamental belief triumph human nature His habits accomodate themselves easily State Department doing business Where other secure cautiously feeling their wades heart problem This attitude extends baili financially number Chinese friends times Lewis Clark Minister Counselor Embassy returned China autumn He served previously country At language student Peiping stationed North Central China Clark served England auring France Canada would probably considered proto State Department career nearing organization His experience mised critical years which personality relationships China leaders The Economic Counselor Embassy Livingston T erchant prewar experience partner investment company He served government numerous special capacities during He newcomer China technical evaluation country economic possibilities usually proven correct Altheugh officers embassy policy recemmendations Department political section embassy which initiates efforts gevernment informed The Political Ceunseler Embassy John Wesley Jones Reme Except absence during served Italy since Prier assigned abeut years Calcutta India Carrell ilton Terry First Secretary Embassy pelitical affairs newcemer Fereign Service China During Navy serving fleet Assistant Naval Attache Spain He werked eight years T V A engineer charge planning utilization along waterways Unlike others seriesly interested learning Chinese language At present there three Second Secretaries Embassy One Thomas J Cery entered Fereign Service Dring stationed nmmber pests including highly formative years escew Vladivostok Another Leenard Lee Bacon former lawyer joined fereign service after experience China dates summer Ralph Cleugh Second Secretary career Ebassy fluent Chinese He served China years previously studied Lingnan University Canton The ether career present regular embassy staff Third Secretary Bruce Lancaster He service Army arine Corps during assigned Nanking sumpter He gives energies visas similar technical The strong Embassy reporting apart Ambassador consists Foreign Service Stff oficers ilitary Naval Air Attaches establishments The staff efficer Frederic Schultheis FranE Kierman China specialists fluent command language Schultheis studied taught China before returning faculty Far Eastern partment University Washington Dr served first member intelligence section Air Ferces later principle intelligence efficer China Theater Kierman returned wartime service arine Crps Philipoines China finish study Chinese language literature history University Washington He joinea State Department January Both outside career fratrni Air ilitary Naval attaches wealth experience gained U S forces China auring their officers specially traine served years China Their knowledge China highly complex military scene appears complete exact lable other government representatives China Various explanations offered knowledgable regards modern China career officers staff Embassy The State Department reportealy wants officers European Service appreciation Far East The interrupted training regular China Language Officers might numberea eight every Probably destructive trained cadre career assassinations political slinging which coincided Gen Patrick J Hurley ambassador China Findings career service officers which aifiered situation Hurley wanted became basis political persecution The taken preasure groups United States become emotionally involved China policy fracas Eventually State Department forced greater nmber experienced China safer pests I ccess regular highly classifie reports Embassy feeds Washington D C But watching action several patterns become clear There appears which guides search information A Foreign Service Officer emphasizes angles picture suggested particular experience There adequate prevision focusing attention unknown factor Staffs consular establishments China including Hongkong report local developments Only consular posts filled experience China In cases their energies completely absorbed routine administrative consular keeping informea local conditions becomes almost spare proposition Consular think there adequate opportunity travel their areas Effective embassy staff seems hampered embassy officers permitted emotions enter assessment situation As United States there least schools thinking among approach U S should adopt towar China Reularcareer icers problem extension situation Europe while Ambassador China members number other possibilities The language barrier limits contacts career officers It inclines weight views expressed American British educated members resent government opinions thoroughly Chinese oriented leaders The present premier members cabinet speak fluent English But small group Only Communist leaders converse English Conmunist sponsored reassertion Chinese nationalism further limit future language While government beholden United States comparatively Americans gather Frequently U S officials correspondents Chinese ureau concerned available statistics produced There relative freedom travel The simple neficiency Government permitted foreigners facts authorities sought Even piecing together focused picture events China enormously complex Events China moved during years I published material which could adequately prepare State Department officer understanding needs working effectively The experiences which motivate Chinese certainly foreign westerners including recent State Department arrivals Affairs China reached point where logic takes deciding For moment while United States Secretary State wealth personal China experlenee ambassador Stuart unique qualifications these dficiencies preparation among foreign service officers damage might otherwise But unless State Department personnel policy romght needs situation something optimum performanc expected fmture diplomatic establishment nited States maintains Sineer_elv A1bert RavenhoIt Received New York