Office of the Historian

393.11/909: Telegram

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

Peking, March 28, 1929—9 p.m.
[Received March 28—2:45 p.m.]

231. 1. The following telegram has been received from the American Consul at Nanking:

“March 27, 5 p.m. As most recent reports indicate continued reverses by government military forces, I am sending out to Americans in the consular district a preliminary circular letter informing them of the situation and to be prepared to receive advice for a general evacuation. I am inclined to think one or more of the three contingencies mentioned in my telegram of March 9, 1 p.m. may occur shortly.”

[Page 446]

Nanking’s telegram of March 9, 1 p.m., was repeated to the Department in my 166, March 11, 4 p.m.

2. Legation has repeated first sentence of above telegram to commander in chief, Asiatic Fleet and added following:

“I accordingly repeat my urgent recommendation of March 26, 9 p.m., and request that arrangements be made for the immediate despatch of an American naval vessel to Nanking.”

My March 26, 9 p.m., to Admiral was as follows:

  • “(1) Following from American Consul Nanking: ‘U.S.S. Mindanao left here this morning. Commanding officer informed me he had had no information of any American vessel to be sent to relieve Mindanao.’
  • (2) In view of the present very unstable conditions in Nanking I urgently recommend that a naval vessel be there for the time being.”

3. American Consul at Nanking has been advised of action taken.

4. In view of present developments I believe presence of American naval vessel at Nanking imperative.

MacMurray