Office of the Historian

893.0146/742a: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Second Secretary of Embassy in China (Smyth), at Peiping

Washington, November 18, 1939—2 p.m.

259. In connection with the recent announcements of the British and French Governments that they intend to reduce their military forces stationed in north China, the Department requests that Peiping, Shanghai and Tientsin keep it currently informed of pertinent developments in this connection, especially in regard to numerical or other important changes affecting British and French forces in north China and at Shanghai.13

Sent to Peiping. Repeated to Chungking, Shanghai and Tientsin.

Welles
  1. Such information was promptly reported by telegram.↩