893.00/12–1248: Telegram
The Consul General at Tientsin (Smyth) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 12—2:57 a. m.]
430. Remytel 429, December 11,11 repeated Nanking as 670. KMA reports all Government troops being pulled out of Tangshan and mines area, evacuation to be completed by noon today. No damage being done to mines. All available rolling stock sent Tangshan to remove troops comprising 87th Army. Youth Corps (and few regiments rail police) total about 25,000. Withdrawal Government troops not being molested by Communists so far as known now. KMA believes [Page 639] evacuation mines area due either Fu’s desire shorten lines or related to some unknown political move. Unconfirmed report Youth Corps (Generalissimo’s own and useless) will be sent south by boat from Tangku.
Local Chinese feeling that some peace settlement in North China imminent indicated by sudden rise local industrial shares yesterday.
Repeated Nanking 671, Shanghai 618, and Tsingtao.
- Not printed.↩