390.1115A/121: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7 p.m.]
1154. Following is a summary of a letter received by the Consulate from the Chairman of Board of Managers of Shanghai American School.
Board of Managers of Shanghai American School on October 18 decided that school authorities would support the Government’s withdrawal plans and would apply them to their teachers. This involves closing the school in the near future and although it was impossible to fix a definite date for closing further information will be given to parents as situation develops.
This announcement appeared in the local press on October 19 and 20. On October 21 the school received two proposals from British schools to rent a part of its premises. The American school is naturally interested in a proposition which would bring in income from unoccupied buildings after the school is closed. However, information reaching the American public in Shanghai and particularly parents of American school pupils that British schools propose to carry on while Americans leave carries distressing implications as to the wisdom of the American school’s policy. In other words, if Shanghai is safe for British children, why is it not safe for American children?
This query is important for the school and also affects the willingness of Americans to comply with the Government’s evacuation advice. It seems advisable that this situation be brought to the attention of the Department of State.
At a meeting yesterday the Executive Committee of the school’s Board of Managers decided not to change their previously announced policy of closing the school but no date for the closing has been fixed. It is further learned that the offers received to rent the school still stand in spite of the advice of the British authorities to certain British nationals regarding withdrawal from China.
Sent to the Department, repeated to Chungking and Peiping.