125.0093/373a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Johnson)
135. 1. Although the Department desires that American diplomatic and consular offices in China be maintained at points where they can function in safety, the Department does not desire that the lives of the staffs be unnecessarily exposed to serious danger. Bearing the above in mind, the Department authorizes the closing of any offices where you may consider that the staffs become so exposed.
Consular officers should, as heretofore, urge that American citizens withdraw from danger zones.
[Page 250]2. Should emergency at any post arise which in your opinion would warrant such action, you may authorize the officers concerned to send their families temporarily to nearby places of safety. [The remainder of this paragraph and two additional paragraphs concern instructions as to expenses involved.]