893.00/11–248: Telegram

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

2065. Admiral Badger is preparing cable CNO regarding action contemplated under revised directive Deptel 1505, October 2750 which closely parallels third alternative our 1871, October 8, 3 p.m. He is urging dependents depart but feels repercussions locally from ordered evacuation dependents would have harmful effect outweighing beneficial evacuation all dependents. He expressed to Minister-Counselor complete confidence his ability evacuate on short notice Navy dependents as well as all Americans Tsingtao without in any way affecting his ability handle any emergency evacuation situation arising North China.

Danger point [would be?] should Communists fail to heed his protestations of neutrality, demand his immediate evacuation and endeavor overrun his installations. Under such circumstances Badger, quite rightly we believe, refuses to commit himself in advance as to action he would take. Such action, he says, would depend on circumstances.

Stuart
  1. See footnote 46, p. 331.