393.1115/12–948: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 9—8:23 a.m.]
2469. [To Shanghai:] Evacuation policy as agreed upon by Department, Embassy, and Naval authorities has been that foreign nationals would be accorded facilities on space available basis. Inquiries from foreign diplomatic representatives have been uniformly answered in this sense and this policy has been followed in evacuations by US facilities from North China and interior points. However, urtel 1990, December 3, sent Department 2637, states Navy “has decided it cannot help other foreign communities even in emergency.” We would like to know basis this statement.
In your discussions with Navy of revised evacuation plan for Shanghai (see Embtel 1231, December 82), consider carefully number foreign nationals involved and to what extent, if any, they could be included in emergency evacuation. One essential element to consider is destination evacuation ships, whether other point in China or non-Chinese [Page 925] territory. If the latter, Navy could presumably only evacuate those aliens properly documented for entry such territory, a very small proportion total aliens desiring emergency evacuation. If it should prove, by reason of limited facilities or non-Chinese destination of ships, that in emergency only small fraction total aliens could be evacuated, Embassy and Department would be compelled reconsider statement made to foreign missions that their nationals would be evacuated on space available basis. This statement alone without frank and positive qualification that facilities extremely limited may encourage foreign nationals to stay on in illusory hope that when worst comes to worst Americans will take care of them.
Sent Shanghai, repeated Department 2469, Tsingtao for ComNavWesPac.