393.1115/2341a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss)
694. 1. Department has telegraphed Tsingtao as follows:
December 19: “Department feels that you should again urge all Americans to evacuate at earliest possible moment while facilities are still available.”
December 20: “It is the Department’s understanding that American naval vessels are now at Tsingtao and are immediately available for evacuation of Americans. Department urges early evacuation.”
December 20: “Press reports indicate that Japanese fleet may approach Tsingtao shortly. Department feels that evacuation should precede development of a situation of emergency and that notification should be given to American nationals that American Government urges evacuation, naval transportation will be available up to and on a given date, American naval vessels will depart on that date and affording of transportation and/or protection after that date cannot be guaranteed. Navy Department concurs. Please confer with senior naval officer present and report to Department by telegraph views and developments.”
2. Please inform Commander in Chief immediately of the above. Please state in addition that the Administration desires that American nationals evacuate Tsingtao before Japanese naval and land forces now reported to be approaching reach Tsingtao and before any fighting starts; that Secretaries of State and of Navy desire that notification be given at Tsingtao by the Consul and the Senior Naval Officer that naval transportation will be available to American nationals desiring to leave Tsingtao on a date which shall be set by those officers but which is to be not later than December 31, and that naval vessels will carry American passengers prepared to leave on such date. Navy Department is issuing appropriate instructions to Commander in Chief.
3. Repeat paragraph 2 above to Tsingtao and Hankow.