393.11/2116: Telegram
The Consul General at Canton (Linnell) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 19—1:20 p.m.]
Department’s October 18, noon. The route via Shekki and Macao still appears quite safe. Numbers of people are going to Hong Kong from Canton and some coming here from Hong Kong via this route. The Chinese authorities have given me a note of instructions to the magistrate of Shekki to expedite the passage of Americans from Shekki to Macao by bus and these instructions will accompany groups of Americans I send to Shekki. I shall also notify Japanese authorities of every such movement through the Japanese Consul General at Hong Kong.
As suggested in my October 18, 4 p.m.,19 it would be of great help if an American official could work at Macao to see that transportation is provided for such groups of Americans arriving at Shekki. I have asked Ambassador to allot to this office $500 under authorization 62, 1939, to cover expenses of launch which I now have at Shameen.
In case of approach of Japanese to vicinity of Canton, arrangements have been made for those Americans who are willing to do so to come to the Consulate General and the loan has been arranged of the Standard Vacuum building next to this property for use as barracks for those who could not be taken care of on Consulate premises.
[Page 503]Certain groups of Americans state they do not intend to come to Shameen. The American faculty of Lingnan University, which has now been given back to the American Foundation by the Chinese University, say they intend to remain at Lingnan.
At the request of an American-British volunteer committee I yesterday forwarded the Japanese Consul General at Hong Kong the committee’s request that in the event of Japanese occupation of Canton, Lingnan, Pakhoktung, Holy Trinity School, Hackett Memorial Hospital and Canton Hospital be placed out of bounds for Japanese soldiers if the Chinese would give similar undertaking; the first 3 to be used as refugee areas for noncombatants and the latter 2 as medical refuges. No reply has been received as yet, I have also separately notified the Japanese authorities that Lingnan has been taken back by the American Foundation.
Some of the Presbyterian missionaries say they intend to stay as long as possible at Pakhoktung and a number of American doctors will remain at their hospital as long as possible. Every endeavor, however, will be made to induce these groups to concentrate on Shameen in case of necessity.
The Mindanao is of course remaining at Canton and the commander of the South China Patrol20 and I are working together on this matter. Final steps to be taken will of course depend upon the course of events but it is believed eventualities have been considered and provided for as far as they can now be visualized.