393.1115/2694
Memorandum by the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck) to the Secretary of State
Mr. Secretary: Here we have Senator Reynolds21 calling loudly (page 324) for our nationals all to get out of China. Congressional Record, Jan. 10, 1938. Among other things, he says (page 326):21a
“Why do they not get out of there? They are imperiling and endangering the lives of 130,000,000 Americans. I do not hesitate to state to this body that, in my opinion, those 6,000 Americans who are now in China and who persist in staying there are selfish. Why are they staying there? They are staying there because they have investments; because they have money there. They are putting the almighty dollar above the lives of American marines, sailors, and soldiers. Why do not those 6,000 Americans over there come on back home?”
This brings to my mind the suggestion which I ventured a few days ago, namely, that, if we really mean business in regard to the reducing of our national risk in connection with the presence of our people in China; and if we feel warranted in emphatically calling [Page 242] upon them to sacrifice their own views, convenience, business interests, life investment, etc., in the interest of their country and their fellow countrymen to the number of 130,000,000, considerations of businesslike procedure, morality, and equity would warrant there being made by the country as a whole a financial outlay toward consummating that objective. If we believe that withdrawal by our nationals from China will help toward keeping this country out of war; if we earnestly desire that our nationals withdraw; might we not most effectively express our belief and attain our objective in that connection by assuming as a public burden at least a reasonable share of the cost, to the nationals who would have to withdraw, of their withdrawal? In brief, would not a substantial legislative appropriation for the purpose of effecting further withdrawal be the best evidence that could be given of the sincerity of those who advocate withdrawal, and would it not contribute usefully toward that objective and also serve some other objectives?