November 20

This Day in History

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Lead Story
Nuremberg trials begin, 1945
American Revolution
New Jersey ratifies the Bill of Rights, 1789
Automotive
Garrett Morgan patents three-position traffic signal, 1923
Civil War
Sherman's March to the Sea continues, 1864
Cold War
American consul in China held "hostage" by communists, 1948
Crime
Trials open at Nuremberg, 1945
Disaster
Explosions rock West Virginia coal mine, 1968
General Interest
American vessel sunk by sperm whale, 1820
Princess Elizabeth marries Philip Mountbatten, 1947
Hollywood
Music producer Phil Spector indicted for murder of actress, 2003
Literary
Henry James' first novel is published, 1875
Music
Bo Diddley makes his national television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, 1955
Old West
Blacksnake Hills trading post is renamed St. Joseph, 1843
Presidential
Kennedy announces fair housing legislation, 1962
Sports
Cal beats Stanford as band blocks field, 1982
Vietnam War
Students Demonstrate Against Dow Chemical Company, 1967
Seymour Hersh files follow-up to My Lai story, 1969
World War I
British launch surprise tank attack at Cambrai , 1917
World War II
Nuremberg war-crimes trials begin, 1945

Cold War

Nov 20, 1948:

American consul in China held "hostage" by communists

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In what begins as a fairly minor incident, the American consul and his staff in Mukden, China, are made virtual hostages by communist forces in China. The crisis did not end until a year later, by which time U.S. relations with the new communist government in China had been seriously damaged.
Mukden was one of the first major trade centers in China to be occupied by Mao's communist forces in October 1948 during the revolution against the Nationalist Chinese government. In November, American Consul Angus Ward refused to surrender the consulate's radio transmitter to the communists. In response, armed troops surrounded the consulate, trapping Ward and 21 staff members. The Chinese cut off all communication, as well as water and electricity. For months, almost nothing was heard from Ward and the other Americans.
The U.S. response to the situation was to first order the consulate closed and call for the withdrawal of Ward and his staff. However, Ward was prevented from doing so after the Chinese communists, in June 1949, charged the consulate with being a headquarters for spies. With the situation worsening, the United States tried to exert diplomatic pressure by calling upon its allies to withhold recognition of the new communist Chinese government. Chinese forces thereupon arrested Ward, charging him and some of his staff with inciting a riot outside the consulate in October 1949. President Harry Truman was incensed at this action and met with his military advisors to discuss the feasibility of military action. Secretary of State Dean Acheson bluntly and angrily informed the new People's Republic of China that no U.S. recognition would ever be forthcoming until the Americans at Mukden were released. On November 24, 1949, Ward and his staff were allowed to leave the consulate. Ward and four other Americans had actually been found guilty of the inciting-to-riot charge and were ordered deported. Together with the other Americans, they left China in December.
The Chinese actions, which are still difficult to explain or understand, no doubt damaged any possibilities that might have existed for U.S. recognition of the People's Republic of China. Truman, already under heavy attacks at home for not "saving" the Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek, could ill-afford to show weakness in dealing with the Chinese communists, particularly after the arrest of Ward and the other Americans so angered the American public.

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This Week in History, Nov 20 - Nov 26

Nov 20, 1948
American consul in China held "hostage" by communists
Nov 21, 1975
Congressional report charges U.S. involvement in assassination plots
Nov 22, 1963
Kennedy assassinated
Nov 23, 1981
Reagan gives CIA authority to establish the Contras
Nov 24, 1947
"Hollywood 10" cited for contempt of Congress
Nov 25, 1947
London Council of Foreign Ministers meeting begins
Nov 26, 1950
Chinese counterattacks in Korea change nature of war

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