390.1115A/121: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Shanghai (Lockhart)
533. Your 1154, October 26, 2 p.m. It is believed that the Department’s previous telegraphic instructions in regard to the suggested [Page 949] withdrawal of certain categories of American citizens from certain areas in the Far East provide a basis upon which you may in your discretion make appropriate replies to queries such as that raised in the letter from the Shanghai American School which you summarize in your telegram under reference.
For example, it was stated in the Department’s 381, October 6, 2 p.m. to Tokyo, that the policy being adopted in this connection was due to the continuance of an abnormal situation in the Far East which has in widespread areas disturbed and interfered with the legitimate commercial, cultural, and philanthropic activities of American citizens and which has adversely affected conditions of order and general living conditions. In the Department’s 387, October 9, 11 a.m. to Tokyo, it was indicated that the suggested withdrawals were in the nature of precautionary steps for the safety of American citizens such as have heretofore been taken in regard to the Far East and in regard to different parts of Europe. In the Department’s 419, October 24, 6 p.m. to Tokyo, it was indicated that the Department has the utmost sympathy for the difficulties which many Americans will face in withdrawing to the United States and that in order to alleviate those difficulties to the extent possible it has undertaken substantial financial commitments in arranging for special steamer transportation facilities for Americans returning to the United States, but obviously is not authorized to finance schools and other institutions.
The policy which this Government has adopted in regard to the suggested withdrawal of American citizens reflects, as has American policy in regard to the Far East in the past consistently reflected, a direction of action undertaken independently to meet the needs of the situation from the point of view of the interests of this country. The Department is not, of course, in position to offer comment in regard to the reported parallel or similar action taken by the British Government in suggesting that certain British subjects withdraw from certain areas in the Far East.
Sent to Shanghai. Repeated to Peiping, Chungking.