893.00/13886: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 9—2:50 p.m.]
11. Peiping’s 13, January 8, 6 p.m. The British Embassy received yesterday a later telegram from an officer of that Embassy now in Sian recommending that British and American residents be evacuated. The British Counselor representing the British Ambassador and I called on Vice Minister Hsu Mo January 9, 4 p.m. and asked that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs make arrangements for the evacuation of our respective nationals by air, motor car or railway. He replied that the Ministry would take the matter up with the military authorities. He said, however, that the Ministry had telegraphed to General Yang Hu Cheng asking that he make arrangements to receive an official of the German Embassy who wished to enter Sian to arrange for the evacuation of German nationals and that a reply had been received from General Yang saying that the German residents were safe and there was no necessity for the coming of the German official. We nevertheless adhered to our view that British and American residents should be evacuated and that it was incumbent on the Chinese authorities to arrange this. Interview ended with assurance from the Vice Minister that he would do his best to meet our desires and would inform us of the result.
Repeated to Peiping, Shanghai and Hankow.