Office of the Historian

393.11/1466: Telegram

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

Peiping, February 25, 1932—7 p.m.
[Received February 25—8:20 a.m.]

275. Department’s 63, February 20, 2 p.m.17

1.
Following from Hankow:

“February 24, noon. Department’s February 20, 2 p.m. In regard to the situation at Hankow.

(1)
The Chinese authorities have for about 2 weeks been developing entrenchments facing the Japanese concession from the downriver side and about 1 mile away. Japanese reenforcements from Shanghai have arrived within the last 2 days, but Sino-Japanese relations at Hankow remain tranquil.
(2)
There is no immediate communist threat to Hankow and no action is called for in this connection. I have again advised Americans in the interior to withdraw as promptly as possible to places of safety.
(3)
Admiral Williams and I are agreed that in the event of threatened failure of the police authority at Hankow due to communist attack, an effort will be made to reduce the American community to minimum and to concentrate the remainder at points where they can be protected or from which they can be evacuated. Naval force now available is inadequate to do more than provide for evacuation and the possible defense of points essential to the Consulate and the Navy.
(4)
Under the above circumstances it would appear that recommendations need not be made.”
2.
From the foregoing it would appear that Admiral Williams and Consul General Adams are agreed upon a policy at Hankow of defense to cover evacuation and not with a view to holding the port as suggested by Adams in his February 1 [2?], 4 p.m. (See Legation’s 184, February 3, 11 a.m.). The Legation has discussed this subject with the offices of both the Military and Naval Attachés here and is unreservedly in favor of the general plan now outlined in Adams’ present telegram.
For the Minister:
Perkins
  1. Not printed.↩