793.94/11159: Telegram
The Consul at Tsingtao (Sokobin) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 17—7:30 a.m.]
An important Chinese official of the Tsingtao–Tsinanfu Railway has just called on me and inquired whether I would not attempt to [Page 684] dissuade the mayor of this city from announced policy (reiterated yesterday to a gathering of Chinese officials of the local government) that if the Japanese endeavored to take Tsingtao he would make a shambles of Japanese property in this city, particularly the mills. The reason for the request that I interview the mayor was because it was thought that the mayor would recognize my disinterestedness, whereas the Chinese caller stated that the mayor distrusted the motives of any Chinese who questioned his policy with regard to Japanese property. My caller stated that the mayor feels that such Chinese are all political rivals for his position. The mayor has again advised families of officials to leave the city with the result that [another] exodus has commenced in spite of a similar exodus of Chinese from Tsinanfu who are proceeding to Tsingtao.
Despite the gathering of war clouds in Tsinanfu, Tsingtao remains quiet. There is little uneasiness among foreigners and no evidence of any hysteria among the Chinese such as was observed in August. At present there are in Tsingtao approximately 300 Americans.
Sent to Nanking, Peiping.