893.00146/724
Statement by the Department of State64
The U. S. expects not to withdraw its landed armed forces from the points at which they are now stationed.
We note that as of August 4 the British force at Tientsin numbered 494 and at Peiping 216. At that time the U. S. force at Tientsin numbered 226 and at Peiping 344. It appears that subsequently the British have reduced their force at Peiping by about 100 and that the French have done likewise. We assume that these removals from Peiping have been made for purposes of reinforcement at Tientsin. Also, this indicates to us that the British and the French Governments have thus far felt, as we continue to feel, that there are good reasons for keeping the flag flying at Peiping even though the number of men there be reduced.
It appears that the Italians have been making shifts of personnel from Peiping to Tientsin.
- Copy handed to the British Ambassador on September 27 by the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck).↩