811.30 Asiatic Fleet/460: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China ( Johnson )
218. Department’s 214, July 24, 1 p.m., in regard to American naval vessels and telegram 0024–1054 of the Commander of the Yangtze Patrol16 reporting location of foreign naval vessels on the Yangtze.
With regard to the hope expressed in my telegram under reference that no unfortunate incident will occur through the presence of American naval vessels in zones of intensive military operation, I had in mind not only the Monocacy but especially our vessels now stationed at Hankow if and when the Japanese approach that city. It is assumed that you and the Commander of the Yangtze Patrol are keeping in close touch with your interested colleagues and associates in regard to appropriate cooperation and coordination in the activities and stationing of the vessels of the different foreign patrols. I am confident that, in process of such consultation, you are giving careful consideration to the question of disposal and operation of American vessels in a manner calculated to enable them most effectively to carry out their missions of affording reasonable protection to Americans and at the same time to avoid incurring undue risks.
Please keep me fully informed of all developments bearing upon the above problem.
Repeat to Tokyo as Department’s 258, July 26, 6 p.m., and to Shanghai as Department’s 462, July 26, 6 p.m.
- Latter not printed.↩