Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1937, The Far East, Volume IV

793.94/9386: Telegram

Tsingtao , August 14, 1937—noon.
[Received 4:50 p.m.]

Following from Tsinanfu:

“August 13, 4 p.m.

1.: Local manager of the British-American Tobacco Company told me this morning that he had received orders from Tientsin to move his office to Tsingtao as a precautionary measure.
2.: Japanese Consul General informed me today that he believed the local situation would not be directly affected by the Shanghai incident.46 He has not yet ordered the evacuation from here of remaining Japanese but is considering doing so in the near future. The Japanese Vice Consul told me there is a possibility the Consulate General will also be closed if the situation becomes worse.
3.: The Japanese Consul General also said that he does not believe the Japanese military authorities will consent to treat American schools and hospitals in the interior as neutral property because there cannot be any assurance that Chinese troops will not make use of such property and he advised me to tell Americans of this fact.
4.: While I still do not believe there is immediate danger I do believe that, because of possible military activity and floods which are now threatening, communications may be cut off at any time and it will be impossible for persons to get to places from which they may be evacuated. I am therefore warning all Americans of these possibilities and again urging them to go to Tsingtao as soon as possible.

Repeated to the Department and Nanking.”

Sokobin