393.11/2150: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 8—11:50 a.m.]
388. Reference Department’s 134, August 6, 6 p.m. in regard to question of withdrawal of American women and children from Yunnanfu and Chungking and vicinity.
The Embassy here has continued at all times to adhere to the attitude that Americans in regions where hostilities were likely to occur or where communication facilities might be interrupted should, where practicable, evacuate to places of safety, particularly women and children and men who could depart without great inconvenience. Written advice to that effect was last tendered to Americans by the Embassy and the Consulate at Yunnanfu in November 1938 (see Embassy’s telegram No. [541] November 14, 11 a.m., 19387), and since that time the same advice has been tendered orally and in writing when sought by American citizens. However, very few Americans have followed Embassy or Consular advice to withdraw from western China; in fact, it is believed that there is at this time a larger American population in the provinces of Szechuan and Yunnan than was the case at the outbreak of hostilities. Yunnanfu’s despatch No. 38 of February 29, 1940,8 is believed to contain a fairly accurate list of Americans now residing in the western provinces of China. Practically all Americans here are following regular occupations: the men are engaged in missionary, commercial or governmental work, while the women are here with their husbands or are working as missionaries or otherwise. It would appear from a check up of the Embassy records that the number of American women and children at present in the three chief centers of American activity in west China is as follows: Chungking: women 27; children 5. Yunnanfu: women 15; children 18. Chengtu: women 40; children 17. The large majority of the women and children at Chengtu are now at Mt. Omei near Kiating for the summer. There are in addition many American women and children scattered throughout the unoccupied provinces of Central and West China.
Although most Americans in West China are believed to be cognizant of recent developments including restrictions in the matter of transport by the way of Indochina and Burma and of the possibility of being marooned in West China, the Embassy has not perceived any disposition on the part of American nationals to withdraw as a [Page 894] result thereof. The Embassy is of the opinion that an official suggestion looking to withdrawal at this time would meet with very little, if any, response from American nationals. Most of them are here for a definite purpose, are aware of the danger of bombing and isolation, and are prepared to face these difficulties.
Apart from the conviction that another circular advising withdrawal would meet with little success and would likely result in undesirable speculation on the part of Americans, other third power nationals and the Chinese there appears to be no adequate means that could be utilized at present for the evacuation of Americans: air passage to Hong Kong is now booked 3 weeks in advance, bus service is irregular and inadequate and few Americans have private vehicles or the fuel to operate them. In case of serious emergency it is possible that the three United States Navy trucks could be utilized to evacuate Americans but it is thought that few, if any, would wish to avail themselves of that sort of transportation under present conditions.
In view of the foregoing considerations it is believed that American officials should not issue a further circular advising evacuation at this time but should continue informally to urge evacuation when advice is sought or when the opportunity presents itself. Meanwhile, the Department may wish to take steps to discourage Americans from proceeding to the unoccupied provinces of West China.
Sent to the Department. Repeated to Peiping. Code text by mail to Yunnanfu.
- Foreign Relations, 1938, vol. iv, p. 534.↩
- Not printed.↩