125.937/2–2449: Telegram
The Consul General at Tientsin ( Smyth ) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 27—2:44 a. m.]
125. All members staff, all other Americans Tientsin well. All have free movement. Despite continued anti-American propaganda newspapers, radio, posters, Americans so far received treatment good as other foreigners. In some ways Americans fared better than some other foreigners as fewer points friction; for example, British [and] Soviets much larger national groups, property interests here, and [there] has been much dissatisfaction their part with billeting troops. So far no troops billeted residences, occupied Americans, but many Soviet, some British residences occupied by troops.
In general, American, business men have adopted policy wait-see and majority seem feel Communist inaction, tending to restrain trade and business, may be due more to inexperience, ignorance than to deliberate anti-foreign policy. The two American Missions with American staff [Page 1065] (Methodist and American Board) also adopting wait-see policy; they continuing usual activities, including schools with only minor changes in curriculum and administration; these changes so far do not adversely affect Mission pursuits.
Believe it too early for accurate appraisal to be made of future prospects for American and other foreign business and Missions. New regime up to now so busy with take-over problems and coping with situation with which they not familiar and for which they had inadequate trained personnel that have been few indications what policy toward foreigners’ affairs or interests will be. One exception is strong consistent anti-American propaganda press, radio, evidences so far this propaganda not too effective city residents but too early judge results, troops seem indoctrinated with propaganda.