393.1115/7–2849: Telegram
The Consul at Shanghai (McConaughy) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 28—10:05 a. m.]
2946. ReDeptel 1479, July 26, evacuation American citizens. Consulate General recommends arrangements be made bring in APL9 transport, General Gordon, under safe-conduct September 13 sailing following day. Have discussed problem with Downs, APL local agent, who is wiring urgent recommendation to his principals divert Gordon here as indicated. Gordon would be scheduled enter Shanghai [garble] mentioned if normal shipping were reopened and could make this call en route from Kobe to Hong Kong with minimum expense. Other APL ships President Cleveland and Wilson have much smaller passenger capacity 550 each compared 1800 for Gordon. Cleveland on normal schedule would call here September 1 which probably too early for completion necessary negotiations and Wilson September 22 which unnecessarily late. Every day may count if situation continues deteriorate.
Have requested President [of] American Association make immediately canvass American community determine number prospective evacuees. Also consulting consular colleagues obtain estimates probable number other foreign nationals. However, I do not believe we should wait results this survey to open negotiations. Satisfied number wishing leave will be more than sufficient justify call of ship if Communist exit permits forthcoming. Availability permits cannot be determined with certainty until vessel formally booked call here since means and date transportation is required information for application blank. Believe submission large number applications may have salutary effect on Communist authorities and will certainly smoke them out on hostage issue.
Recommend immediate fast tempo negotiations with APL executives who have already been alerted by Downs. If OffEmb Canton can expedite safe-conduct from Nationalists to include personal and household effect evacuees as well as incoming and outgoing mail, project will be greatly furthered. There is risk Communists who argue we are instigators blockade will resent bringing in only one ship. They may [Page 1277] make granting permit for Gordon conditional on assurances from APL [that] other ships will be scheduled on defiance blockade if necessary. APL, of course, will not endeavor run blockade. If safe-conduct could be obtained for additional APL ships, that would be desirable but believe all our initial efforts should be concentrated on Gordon.
Most serious drawback may be problem paying off servants and other employees American evacuees. The three or four British heads families leaving on Anchises tomorrow obliged pay equivalent from US dollars 1,500 to dollars 3,600 as severance bonuses to household servants. We will deal with this vexing problem when we come to it, not allowing it deter us from making evacuation arrangement. Meanwhile I am suggesting to American Association that it discreetly advise Americans planning leave it may be wise start training [trimming?] servant staffs now.
Call of Gordon can be canceled on short notice if necessary.
British wish bring in several small “relief” ships at regular intervals from Hong Kong. They think use term “evacuation ship” would be unfortunate in its implications and would prefer some other designation. Call of Gordon would not interfere their plans and some British nationals undoubtedly would take passage on Gordon.
Preliminary instructions prior to meeting Executive Committee American Association August 1 would be helpful.
Sent Department; repeated Nanking 1650, EmbOff, Canton 925, ConGen, Canton 130, Hankow 57.
- American President Lines.↩