393.1115/957: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 18—7:05 a.m.]
674. I have received following from the Commander in Chief:
“0017. There are recent indications that our nationals are returning to China from other countries. Should this practice continue and spread, the problem of evacuating will of course be difficult if not impossible. Do you consider it possible to prevent this procedure, 2140.”
I do not know how this can be stopped except by refusing passports to persons desiring to leave the United States. Where Americans are residing abroad and in possession of valid passports they cannot be stopped.
Sent to Cine. Repeated to Shanghai and Department.