Office of the Historian

393.11/605: Telegram

The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State

Peking, April 18, 1927—3 p.m.
[Received 9:10 p.m.]

455. Your 171, April 16, 6 p.m.

1.
With reference to the Legation’s attitude toward the withdrawal of American citizens in the consular districts of Foochow, Amoy, Swatow and Canton, please refer to Legation’s 254, March 25, 4 p.m., paragraph 3.
2.
The consuls and naval forces at Chungking and Changsha have been withdrawn in accordance with authorization granted in the Department’s 101 [102], March 26, 5 p.m.
3.
With regard to Hankow, please refer to Legation’s 321, April 2, 4 p.m. On April 12th Yangtze Patrol commander and consul general despatched joint telegram to commander in chief and Legation stating: “If we are to remain at Hankow and protect both lives and property, consider that a much stronger force will be required, minimum one light cruiser and two destroyers or equivalent.” On April 14th commander in chief informed Patrol commander that one light cruiser and one destroyer would leave for Hankow on the 15th and second destroyer would start in about two days. In conformity with the Department’s 157, April 14, 2 p.m.,21 the information contained in these naval telegrams was not repeated to Department. The Legation sees no reason at present to modify its position as above indicated and it would view with great concern any tendency on the part of American citizens to disperse to the interior and to smaller ports from places where they may be protected or quickly evacuated if necessary.
MacMurray
  1. Not printed.↩