893.48/1142a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Johnson)
161. 1. In view of the emergency which is making necessary the departure or evacuation of American citizens from China, and in certain cases their temporary relief, the Congress has been asked by the Department for a special appropriation through which assistance may be extended by our Government.60 This assistance will be extended by the Consuls directly or at their discretion with and through American relief organizations under their supervision and control.
2. It is not intended that funds which our Government may make available shall be advanced to representatives or employees of American companies or organizations or to individuals having funds in the United States except in certain cases when circumstances may demand it in the form of temporary loans against promissory notes, in duplicate. Such temporary assistance may be necessary for persons not really destitute when funds cannot be sent from the United States or elsewhere through banking channels, because of closing of local banks, breakdown of communications, or similar situations. Authorization is hereby given to make such advances in the manner indicated [Page 267] to Americans who wish to proceed to Manila or other nearby places outside of China. The Department will continue to accept deposits in the United States for transmission.
3. In the case of destitute Americans, or when a nondestitute American who wishes to proceed to the United States may for some reason not have funds available without some delay, Government funds may be used to purchase transportation to home in the United States and to advance to each traveler a reasonable amount for subsistence en route. Every person so assisted should be required to give promissory note for amount expended in his behalf or advanced to him.
4. Funds may be used when necessary for the hire of such means of local transportation as may be available, hire and subsistence of escorts, chauffeurs, couriers, telegraph and telephone charges and all similar necessary expenses.
5. If concentration of refugees is found necessary, funds may be used for rent of temporary quarters and subsistence of refugees while awaiting evacuation or transportation.
6. An allotment of $50,000 is hereby made for all offices in China and Hong Kong. You will instruct each office to draw on the Department against this allotment such amount as you may deem necessary, indicating on their drafts “Authorization No. 18”. Instruct each office to which you make an allotment to telegraph Department direct for any additional sum that may become necessary, also keeping you informed. Telegraph immediately your distribution of this allotment.
7. Each office to which an allotment is made shall render separate monthly accounts supported by statement of amounts advanced to individuals and promissory notes in duplicate giving name and address in the United States of the beneficiary. These accounts should not be confused with those for expenditure of Red Cross or other unofficial relief funds or regular appropriations.
8. Promissory notes should read as follows:
“For value received I hereby promise to pay on demand to the Treasurer of the United States, Washington, D. C., the sum of $ . . . . advanced to me or expended in my behalf by the American Consul . . . . . at . . . . . . .; this payment is to be credited to the fund for the relief of American citizens in China.”
9. Further allotments to that made in this telegram are contingent upon the granting by this session of Congress of the special appropriation requested.
10. The Department wishes to be as helpful to you in this problem as possible, and will be glad to receive any comment or suggestions you may care to make.
- Senate Document No. 111, 75th Cong., 1st sess.: Communication from the President of the United States Transmitting Supplemental Estimate of Appropriation … August 17, 1937.↩