393.11/1112: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Johnson)
152. Your 291, April 25, 5 p.m. Substance of paragraph 1 was communicated in writing to Father Burke of National Catholic Welfare [Page 110] Conference. Paragraph 2 was discussed orally with Father Burke on April 30, as was also the question of the withdrawal of missionaries, and it was explained to him that American citizens by continuing to remain in exposed positions contrary to official advice to withdraw are likely, in the Department’s opinion, not only to endanger their own lives, but also the lives and interests of other American citizens, and to create complications both for the Chinese Government and people and for the American and other governments.
If you have not already elaborated and emphasized these considerations in your conversation with Archbishop Constantini, please do so when a suitable occasion occurs.