393.1115/4–2049: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cabot) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 20—6:22 a. m.]
1264. Admiral Badger today informed me that following Amethyst62 incident he may in accordance Washington’s instructions to avoid incidents withdraw US Navy units from river before Shanghai is taken by force.
[Page 1242]He insisted civilian evacuation should be completed before military activities in vicinity Shanghai made it dangerous continue evacuation. He said emergency evacuation plan had been drawn up only with view to internal disturbance and he indicated they could not be carried out in midst belligerent activities. He intimated desirability further evacuation warning.
I pointed out to him this completely new development so far as I am concerned and it is contrary to many points implicit in our earlier discussions. Recognizing, however, that Amethyst incident considerably changes premises on which we were planning and that we must now balance danger of serious incident against abandonment American community here at critical moment I feel Department may wish augment to me its previously expressed views. Department will doubtless take into account effect on general situation of withdrawal American naval units before climax is reached in Shanghai and probable desirability acting in concert with other Western powers in this respect.
Sent Department, repeated Nanking 727.
- On April 20 the British naval sloop Amethyst was fired on by Chinese Communist batteries along the Yangtze River.↩