811.3393/12–1648: Telegram
The Consul General at Tientsin (Smyth) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 16—9:25 a.m.]
455. Remytel 664, December 9 to Embassy (repeated Department 422), reporting hope of Mayor Tu Chieh-shih that detachment Marines be landed Tientsin.
Mayor Tu called on me 6 o’clock this afternoon. He said military situation for Tientsin very serious. Between 10 and 20,000 Communist troops arrived this afternon at Hsilitou, 10 miles northeast Tientsin, with more coming and battle now in progress with 60 secondary [62d Army?], good but only 2 depleted divisions. Three regiments Communists observed coming from Lanfang to south of Tientsin. Situation Tangku even worse. Mayor said in Tientsin-Tangku area Government has only 87th Army (Youth Corps which he said very poor), 86th Army (defeated troops from Chinwangtao), depleted 62nd Army, and Tientsin local defense corps and police said 92nd, 94th Armies sent to Peiping area just before railway cut few days ago.
Mayor said he was sending his secretary, Peter Y. Chuan, to Tsingtao tonight or tomorrow by plane to see Admiral Badger to present to him Mayor’s request that Marine detachment be sent to Tientsin to assist in maintaining order in city, as forces at Mayor’s disposal not adequate to ensure protection of foreigners and others. Mayor referred to Admiral Badger’s proposed despatch of Marines to Shanghai. Mayor asked for my comments. I replied that I could not comment as this was matter of high policy outside my competence.
Sent Nanking 692, repeated Department 455, Tsingtao, Shanghai 633, Peiping.