893.0146/618½
The Department of State to the British Embassy
Several weeks ago the British Government suggested the possible desirability of withdrawing the Embassy establishments and the Boxer Protocol forces from north China and asked for this Government’s opinion. Reply was made that in our opinion a withdrawal at that time would be premature. The British Government later informed us that it had conferred with the French Government, that the French Government shared substantially the opinion expressed by the American Government, and that the British Government had decided to let the matter rest.
The American Government has kept this question in mind and now believes that action toward making withdrawals would be advisable. It is our understanding that the British Government leans toward that view.
It is our opinion that withdrawals, if and as made, should be made in such manner as to avoid giving any impression of a political retreat, to cause a minimum of psychological disturbance, to afford a maximum of service of the objectives for which these establishments have existed, and to synchronize with possible other steps and developments.
We feel that most of the armed forces might in the near future be withdrawn; that the consulates general at Tientsin should remain; that small armed guards might be maintained at Tientsin and at Peiping; that at some given moment the Embassy establishments might be withdrawn from Peiping; and that then a complete withdrawal of the armed guards might be considered.
We offer this line of thought tentatively.
An indication of the present views of the British Government, as regards principle and us regards details, would be welcomed.