811.3393/12–1848: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 18—7:26 a.m.]
2568. Admiral Badger has requested whether we desire him to accede request Mayor Tu for Marines Tientsin (Tientsin’s 692, December 16, repeated Department 455, Shanghai 633, Peiping and Tsingtao unnumbered). We have replied as follows:
“Situation Tientsin unlike that Shanghai. Geographic and other considerations do not lend themselves so readily to measures safeguarding US lives and involvement civil strife highly possible. Accordingly suggest you do not accede Mayor’s request.”
Sent Tientsin 243, repeated Department 2568, Peiping 264, Shanghai 1289, Tsingtao 237.