393.1115/10–2948: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 29—9:59 a.m.]
2033. [To Peiping and Tientsin:] In light unusually serious military defeats suffered by Nationalist forces Mukden area within past 48 hours, we are convinced formal warning Americans to evacuate your district should no longer be delayed. (ReEmbtel 189 to Peiping and 173 to Tientsin October 23, repeated Tsingtao 61 [161], Shanghai 975 and Department 1980 and Embtel 2018, October 27, to Department, repeated Peiping 198, Tientsin 184). Warning should be made public your district Monday November 1, 12 noon Peiping standard time, and issuance written notices as contemplated Embtel 196 to Peiping, repeated 181 Tientsin.31
We appreciate force Peiping’s arguments regarding desirability making statement to press (Peiping’s telegram 594, October 27, repeated Department 396, and Tientsin’s 552, October 28, repeated Department 309), but in light of considerations set forth Embtel 196 to Peiping, 181 Tientsin, October 26, we are still of opinion press handout as such should be avoided. In response to any [Page 868] inquines from the press following receipt of warning notice, you may of course furnish inquirer with text of warning (see Deptel 1469, October 19, repeated Peiping 183, Tientsin 195). Text has been translated into Chinese here and is being telegraphed separately. It seems to us desirable that you do not go beyond the generalities of the warning in any statement you make to the press, although in any private conversations you may have with individual correspondents there would be no objections to elaboration of details for their background information only and not for attribution to you.
Repeated Tsingtao for information Consul General and ComNavWesPac, repeated Shanghai for Consul General and Connors. Sent Peiping 200, sent Tientsin 186, repeated Tsingtao 174, Shanghai 1008, Department 2033.