393.1163/184: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Mayer) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 15—10:31 a.m.]
808. Legation’s 679, June 25, 8 p.m.
- 1.
- Following from American consul at Hankow:
“August 13, noon. Information is at hand indicating that some missionaries now in the United States are making tentative plans to return to this field in the early autumn. I strongly recommend they defer returning to posts at which they cannot be protected or from which they cannot be safely and quickly evacuated. The risks involved are much the same under present conditions [apparent omission] warranted and until the situation becomes more settled missionaries should postpone any attempt to resume their work at such posts. Conferences between representatives of the Department and missionary organizations in the United States might be helpful in discouraging any movements back to interior points at this time. If it has not already been done, the home offices of missionary organizations should also instruct their representatives at Shanghai and Hankow in the sense of the above so far as this district is concerned. Unless some steps are taken along this line, a substantial movement back to interior posts in this region will probably begin in September. Please repeat to Department if you concur.”
- 2.
- I fully concur in the views expressed by Lockhart and strongly recommend that the Department approach [apparent omission] and heads of mission organizations and of those of the principal business organizations as employ Americans in the interior with a view to averting a general and premature return of Americans to such places. This object might best be attained it would seem if the China representative of those organizations were instructed to follow the advice of the American diplomatic and consular officers on this subject.
- 3.
- In reply to an inquiry on the same question the Legation
telegraphed the American consul at Canton, August 12, 3 p.m., in
part as follows:
“The Legation perceives no good ground for any reversal on our part of the policy which has hitherto been followed of withdrawing American citizens from the interior and concentrating them at places where they may be protected or readily evacuated in an emergency. You should continue to discourage all American citizens from returning to such places as do not fall within the two categories above named and make entirely clear to any individuals who did decline to heed your advice that such action is taken entirely at their own risk and responsibility.”