893.00/8942: Telegram
The Commander in Chief of the Asiatic Fleet (Williams) to the Office of Naval Operations, Department of the Navy
0002. Your 1031–1645 and 1031–1650. In reply to Secretary of State: It is my opinion that Americans may soon be in danger in North China. I recommend that if they are to be withdrawn that they go to Tientsin and not to Peking and that as many leave China as possible. Also that the American Legation and staff move to Tientsin in the event of serious danger. The blunder of being trapped in Peking which was committed in 1900 should not be repeated.88
I am not in favor of bringing a brigade of army troops to relieve the Shanghai marines there now but recommend that such brigade be made ready to sail directly to Tientsin on short notice, my reasons being that the marines are established here and it would be lost motion to displace them. Furthermore I have no ship but the Chaumont in which to put them and she may be required to make a trip to the Pacific Coast. The Henderson is due in Shanghai about April 28 with a regiment of marines; I plan, if necessary, to send them to North China. There is [Page 101] another regiment of marines being organized at San Diego for possible service on this station.
In reference to American Minister’s despatch 277 of 29 March, I am in general agreement with his estimate of the situation politically as contained in paragraph 1 of his despatch and feel that the position of foreigners in China is becoming more insecure daily. In my opinion it would be wise to send enough troops to the Philippines and hold them in readiness there to form an expeditionary force of about one division. This rough estimate subject to revision by responsible Army authorities. In making it I have in mind the necessity for cooperating with other nations, to secure Tientsin as a base and a refuge for the Legations as well as to protect the foreigners there. 2345.
Received at 19:29, 2 April, 1927.