393.11/543: Telegram

The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State

305. Your number 102, March 26, 5 p.m.

1.
Legation received March 30th from local representative Standard Oil Company, following text of telegram received by him from Shanghai office of company:

“Please advise American Legation that we protest against reported contemplated closing of consulate and withdrawing gunboats from Chungking and also Changsha, respectively.”

2.
I am replying today that the Legation March 27th instructed the consuls at Changsha and Chungking as soon as a sufficient length of time had been given for the Americans remaining in their districts to withdraw, to close their respective consulates and proceed to Hankow; that the commander in chief has issued instructions for the gunboats to withdraw from these ports simultaneously with the departure of the consuls; and that the substance of the foregoing was released to the press representatives in Peking on March 28th.
MacMurray