893.0146/918
The Ambassador in China ( Gauss ) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 26, 1942.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s telegraphic instruction no. 267 of November 14, 1941, 2 p.m. to the Embassy at Chungking in regard to the withdrawal of the United States Marine Forces in North China…
The Department will notice that in notifying the Senior Ambassador of the withdrawal, I have used the word “temporary”. While the reservation of rights under the Final Protocol of November [September] 7, 1901 in itself would doubtless serve as sufficient basis for any desired return of American forces in North China so long as the Protocol is in force, I nevertheless deemed it advisable at the risk of redundancy, to provide specifically for any desired return of the troops by referring to their withdrawal as “temporary” and I trust my action will meet with the Department’s approval.
Respectfully yours,
Counselor of Embassy