388.1115/4906: Telegram
The First Secretary of Embassy in China (Smyth) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:14 p.m.]
365. Department’s 381, October 6, 2 p.m., to Tokyo, withdrawal of Americans from the Far East. The Department’s telegram under reference was received this morning and has been repeated by this office to Consuls in China including Mukden and Harbin.
The substance of the Department’s telegram is being brought to the attention of American citizens resident in Peiping by confidential circular notice, the only means by which all the numerous Americans here can be readily reached. The Embassy will itself refrain from giving the matter publicity but it is difficult to see how publicity either here or elsewhere in China can be avoided in view of the fact that a large number of Americans will be informed in the premises.
The Embassy will report to the Department as soon as possible the number of Americans in Peiping who desire to withdraw to the United States. In this connection the Embassy understands that all bookings on American steamers from China to the United States are filled for several months to come. If the Embassy may be in a position to reply to inquiries it is respectfully requested that this office be informed whether additional American vessels will be made available to take to the United States those Americans who may wish to return there.
Sent to the Department. Repeated to Chungking, Tientsin, Shanghai, Tokyo.