393.1115/3444: Telegram
The Consul General at Hankow (Josselyn) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 25—7:10 a.m.]
Have received a telegram from Allgood, American school, Kuling as follows:
“Officially informed Kuling may be used for military purposes. Chinese military authorities request foreign evacuation. Please advise.”
I have replied as follows:
“Your telegram received. You and others must be guided by local situation and conditions regarding evacuation. If Americans elect to remain, suggest you collect in one spot and notify me your whereabouts and I will inform Chinese and Japanese”.
Reports received today from U. S. S. Monocacy indicate the evacuation from Kuling at this time would be very hazardous. The Ambassador has today sent a letter to Chiang Kai Shek referring to above-mentioned telegram from Kuling regarding foreign evacuation and expressing the hope that the report is not correct; that at present when fighting is being carried out all around the base of the mountain upon which Kuling is situated, evacuation would be an exceedingly serious undertaking. The Ambassador expressed the hope that instructions will be issued which will make it unnecessary for the Americans on Kuling to travel along roads and paths now under fire.
Repeated to Peiping, Shanghai. Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo.