Ask the Scholar
Page 3 of 4
I can add historical knowledge about this page.
Page image
OCR
non
-3-
Mr. Barnett asked the two visitors which motives they
believed to be the most important in connection with the Communist
detention of key businessmen: (1) a desire to have their expert
technical and managerial knowledge, (2) a desire to insure a
continued flow of American dollars, or (3) the use of Americans as
security againat Kuomintang air raids on the city or for other
political purposes. Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Herod explained that
probably all three notives were represented, but differed accord-
ing to the circumstances of the particular American company. E.g.
in the case of the Shanghai Power Company the motive would be
security against bombings, and in the case of the International
General Electric Company it would be e continuation of remittances
as a measure to solve the social problem of labor.
There was a brief discussion of the Department's communi-
cations facilities and it was explained that by tomorrow we would
probably have no code facilities of our own with Communist China.
However, the visitors were informed in confidence that we had
arranged with the Britieh to transmit limited amounts of code
traffic. Mr. Herod was told that this channel could be used to
get a message to Americans there on the escape project, enabling
the management of the parent firms in New York to give their
views on the matter. In connection with this subject, the Secretary
merely offered the view that the escape plan, of course, appeared
dangerous but, as Mr. Hopkins had explained, the mental predicament
of the persons concerned could be readily understood.
Mr. Herod inquired regarding the present status of the
recognition question. The Secretary replied that no action was
being taken on that subject at this time. He said that various
considerations entered into the question, one being that the nations
that have recognized to date appear to be in little if any better
position than those who have not.
and
ARENIVES
SERVICE
In summary, Mr. Herod gave it as his understanding that:
(1) The Government recognized its responsibility for the
protection of these nationals.
(2) The Department was attempting to concert with other
Governmente to press for permission for Americans and other
foreigners to leave Shanghai.
(3) The Consul General at Peiping would endeavor to
approach the highest Communist authorities on the subject.
(4) That
2
Page data
- Page
- 3
- Source index
- 0
- Type
- photo
- Media ID
- f878dc1d64c58ce4
- Size
- unknown
Document data
- ID
- 183391667
- Core
- doc
- Type
- document
DTO data
{
"id": "183391667",
"sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/183391667",
"contentType": "document",
"title": "Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Mr. R. W. Herod, Paul Hopkins, and Others",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/183391667",
"collections": [
"Dean Acheson Papers",
"Secretary of State Files"
],
"iiifBase": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-da/201181/1721915/1721915-37-01.jpg",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-da/201181/1721915/1721915-37-01.jpg",
"largeImageUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-da/201181/1721915/1721915-37-01.jpg",
"imageCount": 4,
"hasImages": true,
"source": "import",
"hasTranscription": false
}
Context sent to Scholar
Document identity
{
"localId": "183391667",
"label": "Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Mr. R. W. Herod, Paul Hopkins, and Others",
"core": "doc",
"dtoType": "document",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/183391667"
}
Document source metadata
{
"id": "183391667",
"sourceUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/183391667",
"contentType": "document",
"title": "Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, Mr. R. W. Herod, Paul Hopkins, and Others",
"citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/183391667",
"collections": [
"Dean Acheson Papers",
"Secretary of State Files"
],
"iiifBase": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-da/201181/1721915/1721915-37-01.jpg",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-da/201181/1721915/1721915-37-01.jpg",
"largeImageUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-da/201181/1721915/1721915-37-01.jpg",
"imageCount": 4,
"hasImages": true,
"source": "import",
"hasTranscription": false
}
Document source extras
{
"url": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/183391667",
"naId": 183391667,
"levelOfDescription": "item",
"productionDates": [
{
"day": 24,
"logicalDate": "1950-03-24",
"month": 3,
"year": 1950
}
],
"recordType": "description",
"ocrSource": "nara-archive"
}
Page context
{
"seq": 3,
"pageIndex": 0,
"type": "photo",
"url": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/presidential-libraries/truman/hst-da/201181/1721915/1721915-37-03.jpg",
"mediaId": "f878dc1d64c58ce4",
"ocrText": "non\n-3-\nMr. Barnett asked the two visitors which motives they\nbelieved to be the most important in connection with the Communist\ndetention of key businessmen: (1) a desire to have their expert\ntechnical and managerial knowledge, (2) a desire to insure a\ncontinued flow of American dollars, or (3) the use of Americans as\nsecurity againat Kuomintang air raids on the city or for other\npolitical purposes. Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Herod explained that\nprobably all three notives were represented, but differed accord-\ning to the circumstances of the particular American company. E.g.\nin the case of the Shanghai Power Company the motive would be\nsecurity against bombings, and in the case of the International\nGeneral Electric Company it would be e continuation of remittances\nas a measure to solve the social problem of labor.\nThere was a brief discussion of the Department's communi-\ncations facilities and it was explained that by tomorrow we would\nprobably have no code facilities of our own with Communist China.\nHowever, the visitors were informed in confidence that we had\narranged with the Britieh to transmit limited amounts of code\ntraffic. Mr. Herod was told that this channel could be used to\nget a message to Americans there on the escape project, enabling\nthe management of the parent firms in New York to give their\nviews on the matter. In connection with this subject, the Secretary\nmerely offered the view that the escape plan, of course, appeared\ndangerous but, as Mr. Hopkins had explained, the mental predicament\nof the persons concerned could be readily understood.\nMr. Herod inquired regarding the present status of the\nrecognition question. The Secretary replied that no action was\nbeing taken on that subject at this time. He said that various\nconsiderations entered into the question, one being that the nations\nthat have recognized to date appear to be in little if any better\nposition than those who have not.\nand\nARENIVES\nSERVICE\nIn summary, Mr. Herod gave it as his understanding that:\n(1) The Government recognized its responsibility for the\nprotection of these nationals.\n(2) The Department was attempting to concert with other\nGovernmente to press for permission for Americans and other\nforeigners to leave Shanghai.\n(3) The Consul General at Peiping would endeavor to\napproach the highest Communist authorities on the subject.\n(4) That\n2"
}