893.00/12609: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received January 1, 1934—1:40 p.m.]
3. Following from Vice Consul at Foochow:
“January 1, 9 a.m. Your December 30, 10 p.m. The Legation is respectfully informed that in compliance with the advice of this Consulate all Americans have withdrawn to Foochow from Yenning and Kienningfu. The only Americans now residing in the up-river districts of the Min River are at Kutien and Mintsing. These Americans have been advised to withdraw but have as yet failed to follow this advice.
Americans in the Futsing, Haitan, Hinghwa, Ingtai, Hankong and Sienyu districts have not as yet been advised to withdraw. In view of the political turmoil which now prevails in Fukien Province and the uncertainty of communications and since the American Government has no means of affording protection to Americans in the districts named, I respectfully recommend that the Americans residing in these districts be advised to withdraw, and that the responsibility for their failure to do so be placed upon the mission authorities concerned. The Legation’s instructions in the premises are requested. My British colleague is in agreement with me and states that he is communicating with his Legation in the sense outlined above.
Americans residing in the Foochow native city and its environs have been advised to withdraw to Nantai Island and have been informed that they continue to reside outside the Nantai Island at [Page 558] their own risk. Americans at Pagoda Anchorage, Dionglo and the Fukien Christian University have not been advised to withdraw, as the last two named places are accessible to Pagoda Anchorage and therefore the Americans there can be protected or readily evacuated.”
The Legation has replied as follows:
“January 1, 6 p.m. Your January 1, 9 a.m. Advice for the withdrawal of Americans from the place of residence mentioned in the second paragraph of your telegram is a matter which the Legation must necessarily leave to your judgment. While at present these places do not appear to be in the area in which military operations are anticipated in the immediate future and presumably they are not military centers or bases likely to be the object of air bombardment, the Legation is of the opinion that in view of the uncertainties of the situation including the affiliation of the rebel regime with communist elements, the Americans at such places should be warned of the grave possibilities of the situation and advised to withdraw while it may still be safe to do so and before means of transportation and lines of communication are interrupted.
Your telegram is being repeated to the Department. The Counselor of Legation at Nanking is also being informed.”