740.9011 Pacific War/3944
The Consul at Kweilin (Ringwalt) to the Ambassador in China (Gauss)76
Sir: I have the honor to refer to this Consulate’s despatch no. 115, dated May 12, 1944, enclosing a copy of a circular addressed to American nationals in southeast China suggesting that, in view of the threatening military situation, they withdraw to places of safety; and to report that many American missionaries have indicated that they will heed the warning and that they are taking steps to send their wives and children to the United States.
Summary: The military situation has not changed since May 18 when this Consulate sent a circular to American citizens in southeast China recommending that they withdraw to places of safety. The Japanese are believed to have the strongest concentration of troops in Honan that they have ever gathered in China, the great majority of whom have taken no active part in the Honan campaign. Other concentrations have been noted recently in the Canton and Hanoi–Haiphong areas. The Japanese may be considering a drive into south China to gain control of the Canton–Hankow Railway and to establish [Page 84] rail connection with Indochina via Kweilin and banning. Although several American families have decided to return to the United States at this time, many women missionaries are remaining at their posts and others who have recently arrived in China from the United States are understood to be proceeding to remote stations in Kwangtung and Kwangsi. It is felt that other missionaries, especially women, should be officially discouraged from traveling to China at this time.
As stated in this Consulate’s despatch under reference, the decision to send out a warning circular to American citizens in southeast China was taken only after consultation with the American military authorities.…
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Respectfully yours,
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Consul at Kweilin; received June 9.↩