393.11/554a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (MacMurray)
112. National City Bank of New York and Standard Oil Company of New York inform us that they have been informed that American Consul at Hankow has issued evacuation order effective Sunday covering all American business men. They state that their information indicates that present naval force can protect foreigners if they are concentrated on river front and that complete withdrawal from Hankow means great loss of national prestige and would seriously injure their interests and they hope that, unless the military necessities imperatively require [it], complete evacuation will not be ordered. We have informed them that we do not know of any such complete evacuation order. Please communicate to Lockhart and ask him for information which can be transmitted to companies here.