893.00/1–1549: Telegram
The Consul General at Tientsin (Smyth) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 15—2:43 a. m.]
69. Communists now in occupation of large part of city including areas in which Consular and USIS offices located. Some shelling and small arms fire continuing in some parts. All members of staff safe. It would be appreciated if Department would telegraph this information to relatives of American staff listed in our telegram No. 485 of December 2489 except families of Coffey and Hein who have left Tientsin. Consular offices not badly damaged. Damage consists only of smashed window panes and doorways which can be easily repaired. So far as we have been able to ascertain, all Americans in Tientsin are safe.
Sent Department 69, repeated Nanking 63, Peiping 54, Shanghai 57, Tsingtao 19.
- Not printed.↩