893.00/6–247: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Stuart)
682. Indicating he was acting under instructions his Govt member British Embassy staff Washington has orally informed Dept British Govt concerned over situation China, particularly Shanghai, and had authorized its Ambassador Nanking and Consul General Shanghai, with concurrence Admiralty, to appeal to Commander British Pacific Fleet for warships to be sent Chinese ports in event civil disturbances endangered British lives and property. Plans call for “rescue and protective action”, at least at Shanghai. He asked what plan US Govt had under consideration for protection in similar circumstances and whether such plan included mutual assistance to British and US nationals.
Dept informed him our Embassy had given no indication serious concern over welfare US citizens in China and that we, while concerned over unrest, had not felt situation sufficiently alarming to warrant preparation such plan. Dept pointed out US military units now Tientsin, Tsingtao, Shanghai and Nanking, which would doubtless be made basis any program protection, and any plan for protection American lives in China would certainly include measures for cooperation with British.
Embassy’s comments on foregoing would be appreciated.