125.953/8–2348: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State

1556. Reference Department’s 1199, August 18. Consulate General Tsingtao has been informed of Department’s instruction concerning evacuation of that post. With reference to last paragraph of telegram under reference, Embassy is gravely concerned over change in its instructions from Department on question of who should have final authority to determine appropriate time for any given evacuation. Embassy set forth in its 1849 [849], May 11, its reasons for believing final authority should be vested with Ambassador in all cases. It still holds to those views and would again cite 1927 Nanking incident when refusal wife of officer in charge to evacuate led to disastrous consequences. There would also seem to be an inconsistency in granting final authority to Ambassador to order evacuation of all persons while at same time denying him authority to order evacuation of dependents. Embassy is not aware of reasons for this discrepancy but trusts that it does not reflect a lack of confidence in Embassy’s judgment.

Embassy strongly recommends that Department reconsider its decision and urges that instructions contained in paragraph numbered 1, Deptel 765, May 20 and paragraph 1 Depgram A–107, May 1929 be reaffirmed. Embassy convinced those instructions were soundly based.

Stuart
  1. Latter not printed; for summary, see telegram No. 765, May 20, 6 p. m., to the Ambassador in China, p. 818.