793.94/11843: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Tsingtao (Sokobin)
Your December 27, 4 p.m. On the assumption that it was your intention simply to indicate to the Senior Consul that the matter of Americans acting as “special constables” was one which you were not called upon to approve or disapprove, the Department feels that you might have added that although you were continuing to urge all Americans to withdraw from Tsingtao you of course would not wish to interpose any objection or obstacle to appropriate provisional measures which Americans and other foreigners who elected to remain in Tsingtao might find it desirable to adopt for their self-protection during a temporary period of emergency.
Please repeat to Hankow and Peiping.