393.1115/642: Telegram
The Consul General at Tientsin (Caldwell) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 9—9:05 a.m.]
37. Nanking’s September 4, 4 p.m.12 Although Department’s telegram No. 206, August [September] 2, 6 p.m. applies to the city of Tientsin itself as much as to any other area in China and I must assume that it was the considered opinion of the Department on the basis of the information available that this instruction should apply to Tientsin, my uncertainty as to the reasons prompting the instruction makes it difficult to decide precisely the degree of urgency applying to evacuation from Tientsin and the steps which are to be taken by this office following the issuance of the notification referred to in the Department’s telegraphic instruction. After consultation with Colonel McAndrew13 I feel that the situation here is such as to [Page 316] justify the slight delay in issuing the evacuation notice to Americans in Tientsin incident to an exchange of telegrams with the Department.
Japanese forces have already arrived in and passed beyond Tientsin in such numbers that further hostilities here seem improbable and with an expected decrease in Japanese troop arrivals transportation facilities at least as far as Tangku should gradually improve. It is realized that the Department is in possession of information not known to this office which may cause its misunderstood danger to Americans in Tientsin to differ from an estimate formed on the ground, but unless more information can be given to the Americans permanently resident in Tientsin than I have at present very few, except those already financially embarrassed for reasons unconnected with the present hostilities, will be willing to evacuate. It is realized that persons from the interior temporarily in Tientsin and vicinity, particularly at Peitaiho, would do well to return to the United States as it is unlikely that they will be able to resume their work in the near future, but it is the opinion of Colonel McAndrew and myself that any change in the military situation in North China which would make it necessary to evacuate Americans permanently resident in Tientsin could be foreseen sufficiently in advance to permit them to leave in safety. I have hesitated to make these representations in view of the fact that the Department’s instruction seems clearly to apply to Americans resident in Tientsin, but the effect of the issuance of an evacuation notification would be such that I feel justified in asking that the Department again consider the estimate of the situation here of Colonel McAndrew and myself before the notification is issued locally. If the Department still desires that the notification be sent to Americans actually resident in Tientsin I shall comply at once upon being so instructed.