393.1115/4906a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
381. The continuance of an abnormal situation in the Far East which has in widespread areas disturbed and interfered with the legitimate [Page 933] commercial, cultural, and philanthropic activities of American citizens and which has adversely affected conditions of order and general living conditions has impelled the Department to the conclusion that the time has come for it to adopt with reference to China (including Manchuria), to Japan (including Kwantung Leased Territory, Korea, and Formosa), to Hong Kong, and to French Indochina an attitude toward passport control and withdrawal of American citizens therefrom similar to that which has been adopted for some time toward these questions with reference to disturbed areas of Europe.94 The Department accordingly desires that its diplomatic and consular officers in China, in Japan, in Hong Kong, and in French Indochina quietly inform American citizens in their respective districts of the substance of the preceding sentence and suggest withdrawals in so far as is practicable from the areas in question to the United States. This applies especially in regard to women and children and to men whose continued presence in China, in Japan, in Hong Kong,95 and in French Indochina is not considered urgently or essentially needed. There should be pointed out to American citizens the advisability of their taking advantage of transportation facilities while such facilities are available, as it goes without saying that no one can guarantee that such facilities will remain available indefinitely.
In order that this instruction be not misconstrued in any quarter, it is desired that effort be made to avoid publicity in regard thereto and that endeavor be made to preclude the reading into it of sensational implications.
The Department would appreciate receiving from you and from Peiping, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Saigon, and other interested offices an estimate of the number of Americans who will be inclined to heed these suggestions.
Tokyo should instruct Consuls in Japanese territory and Peiping should instruct those in China.
The Department will expect shortly to issue further instructions embodying various administrative considerations.96
Sent to Tokyo via Shanghai. Repeated to Peiping, Chungking, and Hong Kong. Hong Kong repeat to Saigon.
- See Vol. ii, section entitled “Repatriation of Americans and Others From Belligerent Countries and Assistance to Refugees.”↩
- From later reports the Department estimated that on December 31 there would remain the following dependent women and children of American officers: in China 5 women, 3 children; in Japan 10 women and 5 children; in Hong Kong 2 women and 2 children.↩
- Notation by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs: “Navy Department concurs.”↩