Office of the Historian

125.643/89: Telegram

The Chargé in China (Perkins) to the Secretary of State

Peiping, December 12, 1929—1 p.m.
[Received December 12—9:30 a.m.]

1130. Following from American Consul at Nanking:

“December 11, 8 p.m. British and Japanese authorities are making careful plans to defend their Consulates and not evacuate them. I understand that armed naval forces will not be landed except in the event of emergency for defense purposes. My own present plan is to evacuate the Consulate in the event of necessity and withdraw all Americans.”

[Page 498]

I am replying as follows:

“December 12, 1 p.m. Your December 11, 8 p.m.

1.
Legation approves your plan.
2.
Your telegram and this reply are being repeated to the Department for any further instructions which it may desire to give in the matter.34
3.
Commander in chief is being informed.”

Perkins
  1. The Department replied, in telegram No. 412, December 12: “Department approves plan to evacuate the Consulate at Nanking in the event of necessity and to advise all Americans to withdraw.” (125.643/89)↩