123 T 79/71: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Japan (Wilson)

[Paraphrase]

19. Reference Vladivostok’s telegram no. 7, February 22, 2 p.m. Advise Consul Tuck that Department will not make application for exequatur and that when and if it becomes necessary he may close the consulate at Vladivostok and leave. The Department, however, wishes him to stay as long as he is able to do so with dignity, and should his departure take place to make it clear that he is leaving not because of any unreadiness on his part to adjust himself to the local situation in a practical and friendly way as in the past but solely on the initiative of the de facto authorities. The Department relies upon his discretion. Unless an emergency arises he should ask the Department for specific instructions before he takes any decided step.

If it becomes necessary to leave, the consul should send all the archives and records to Tokyo or Harbin as seems best. He should go with the Americans on his staff to either Tokyo or Harbin as seems advisable and wait for orders.

Hughes