793.94/11349: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 29—12:45 p.m.]
7. My British colleague has just given me the following message from British Consul10 at Nanking: [Page 383]
“I am to evacuate British subjects and hope that it can be tomorrow except for Military Attaché and myself who will remain in Embassy for the present. There are 21 British subjects of whom 5 are accommodated on gunboat and the remainder on Jardine, Matheson and Company’s hulk. At my German colleague’s request I am admitting to hulk himself, 2 members of his staff and 11 others under protection of German Embassy. At my United States colleague’s request I am admitting 5 American ladies and possibly several other Americans. Three Dutch nationals are also being admitted.
Unless outlook improves, Butterfield and Swire steamer Whangpoo due here November 30th will be detained and be near hulk to relieve congestion on latter which will be acute. Hulk lies 4 miles up river from Nanking Bund. It is inevitable that a certain number of Chinese craft will collect in its vicinity. I suggest that Japanese authorities be informed of location of hulk and of the fact that it is serving as place of refuge for British and other nationals as described above, and that they also be informed that at present members of your staff are remaining in Embassy and one of His Majesty’s ships is lying off Nanking Bund.”
I have sent following message to Atcheson:11
“November 29, 4 p.m., I have just seen a telegram addressed to the British Embassy by Prideaux-Brune stating that he is arranging to evacuate a number of people including five American ladies and other Americans by tomorrow. I do not want you or Paxton12 or Gassie13 to remain on Embassy premises any longer than you feel safe. I want you to know that I appreciate the burdens which you are bearing at this time.”
I think it would be timely if the Department could ask Embassy at Tokyo to request Japanese authorities to take particular interest in the presence at Nanking of Atcheson, Paxton, Boberts,14 McHugh15 and Gassie, and of the presence there of U. S. S. Panay.
- H. I. Prideaux-Brune, British Consul at Nanking and Chinese Secretary of the British Embassy in China.↩
- George Atcheson, Jr., Second Secretary of Embassy in China at Nanking.↩
- J. Hall Paxton, Second Secretary of Embassy in China at Nanking.↩
- Emile Gassie, clerk of the Embassy in China at Nanking.↩
- Capt. Frank N. Roberts, Assistant Military Attaché in China.↩
- Capt. James M. McHugh, Assistant Naval Attaché in China.↩