124.9318/221
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
After talking with the British Ambassador on another phase of the Far Eastern situation, I said that I desired to speak to him very specially regarding the question of bringing our guards and troops out of Tientsin and Peiping; that some three weeks ago the British Government inquired47 whether we were ready to bring them out from those two places and we had indicated that the time was just a little premature in our opinion, etc., etc.,48 the French expressing a similar view and the British later arriving at a similar conclusion; that, in great confidence, it was my understanding the British now are concerned to get their troops out of these two cities and probably to reduce the number at Shanghai down to the level existing before the Japanese invasion; that the question arises as to just how and when the evacuation of these guards and troops can and should be made to avoid the appearance of scuttling on the one hand and at [Page 32] the same time possibly to permit synchronization with any naval movements which might occur on the part of our two countries. I expressed a desire that the Ambassador, in any event, should ascertain from his Government all phases of its views and suggestions by which these evacuations could take place somewhat in accordance with the views of the different governments interested, after consultation with each other. I said that the question of removing embassies from Peiping is one in which we raise the suggestion as to whether the American Embassy, for instance, should not be retained although closed, with most of the embassy personnel and some of the movable property taken away; and a Consul General retained at Tientsin; that the guards left at Peiping would make possible the continued operation of the radio station; that we had considered withdrawing a portion of our guards and troops at first but having in mind the possibility of withdrawing the remainder at any time circumstances might suggest; that in the event Japan should install a puppet government in North China we could upon the announcement of such, however, withdraw our embassy establishment at Peiping, leaving possibly a chargé, etcetera.
- See aide-mémoire of December 16, 1937, ibid., p. 814.↩
- See aide-mémoire of December 18, 1937, ibid., p. 816.↩