893.00/11–2948: Telegram
The Consul General at Tientsin (Smyth) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 30—2:23 a. m.]
386. Remytel 623, November 2664 and Peiping to Embassy. All five British staff of KMA65 at Chinwangtao arrived here yesterday with three KMA small vessels. They report Cwt66 completely evacuated by Government forces noon November 27. Through night 26–27 heavy explosions indicating demolition and for 3 hours November 27 after last troop transport left, three Chinese naval vessels (one gun boat, one LST, one LSM) shelled port. Ships with Government troops reached Tangku yesterday and troops causing considerable trouble there.
KMA here reports Tangshan garrison commander has advised all who wish to leave mines area to do so now as he will shortly forbid civilian travel. At Linsi, police have asked KMA for dynamite and have put out report that if necessary they will destroy mines. Linsi commander assures KMA that scorched earth threat is propaganda to discourage Communist attack but, in view demolition at Cwt, KMA not trust assurance. KMA says Communist broadcasts to KMA staff at mines warn them to protect property. KMA manager here feels possible reprisals from Communists for failure protect property cannot be ignored and is wiring British Embassy [at] Nanking that [none of?] staff to leave mines unless Embassy advises otherwise or can obtain definite assurance from Gimo that scorched earth policy will not be followed at mines as at Cwt.
Sent Nanking 631; repeated Department 386, Shanghai 587, Tsingtao and Peiping.