Evening star., 1937-07-28
Hull Weighs Plan
to Order Them
From Peiping.
672 AMERICANS
LIVING in CITY
Possible Invocation
of Neutrality Law
Considered.

sible evacuation of American civilians
from Peiping was being considered as
one eventuality to be met in the pres
ent Chinese-Japanese crisis.
He made the statement at his press
conference shortly after it became
known that President Roosevelt was
keeping in constant touch with Far
Eastern developments to determine
among other things, whether the neu-
trality act should be invoked
The Secretary said no decision had
yet been reached on the question Of
evacuating American nationals He
added, however, the question Of pre-
serving the safety of all foreigners in
Peiping was subject of continuous
conferences among American Embassy
officials and the representatives of
other foreign governments.
615 American Residents.
There are approximately CTS Amer
leans listed as residents of Peiping
most Of whom are affiliated with re-
ligious and educational institutions
In addition, q force of 500 men and Of
flcers comprises the American Marine
guard for its Embassy.
Hull told newsmcn the question of
evacuation of foreigners from Peiping
has arisen now for the first time since
adoption of the Boxer protocol of 1901
which was written to care for just such
an emergency
Following the Boxer rebellion in
which many foreigners were slain in
the old Chinese capital, foreign ma
| tons agreed with China under q for
NAL compact that they would MAIN
tain military forces sufficient to main
tain intact the railroad line between
PeiplnE and Tientsln. the nearest sea-
port so that there would be TO doubt
of the ability Of foreigners to fee in
times of danger.
Says Assurances Given.
Hull emphasized that the japanese
government has given assurances that
foreign lives and property would be
protected and that the Marking gov
ernment of China had assumed the
same general attitude. He indicated
that because Of this, only reasons of
utmost urgency would impel the
United States Government to suggest
that American men and women in
Peiping leave that city.
Stephen T. Early. press secretary,
told neWsmen the President was in
telephone communication last night
and this morning with the State De-
partment and would continue to watch
every development in the critical sit
uation.
During the morning Mr. Roosevelt
conferred with Undersecretary of State
Sumner Welles on various international
questions. including Far Eastern con-
ditions. Welles advised the President
of the latest information furnished by
State Department dispatches from the
Orient.
DecIa raj ton Not Necessary.
He recalled that under the law the
President does not have to wait for
formal declaration of war to put
into effect the neutrality provisions
prohibiting arms, ammunition and
credits to belligerents.
The President. it was added must
decide for himself when a state of
war exists, and then he Is obligated
to invoke the law against belligerents
on both sides.
Although numerous clashes have oc-
CURED between Japanese and Chinese
troops in the vicinity of Peiping,
neither Japan nor China has made
formal declaration of war
Invocation of the neutrality act
against them likely would be the first
formal international recognition of
the fighting unless the League of
Nations should act before this country
The situation conceivably could be
similar to that which arose during
the Ethiopian trouble when
President Roosevelt's invocation Of
neutrality, designating state Of war
in Ethiopia, was the first official
recognition of the fighting then in
progress.
Formal Declaration Not Necessary.
Discussing the time at which q war
actually begins, authorities on inter-
national law said formal declaration
by warning states was not necessary
to inform neutrals Of the conditions of
affairs. Ultimatums as precedents to
actual hostilities, however, are re-
quired by the accepted rules of war.
Experts said that when the normal
relation" of peace between nations
| became strained it was customary for
(See PRESIDENT, Page A-4.)