File No. 893.00/1790.
The American Chargé d’Affaires to the Secretary of State.
Peking, July 26, 1913.
The Foreign Office has requested the Diplomatic Body to have Huang Hsin and Chen Chi Mei expelled from the international settlement of Shanghai. This will probably be done. Shanghai settlements are suffering now from neglect in the past to prevent hatching of sedition there.
I have held that no person while engaged in the military operations of either side should be allowed to use the settlement as a base from which to plan attacks, lest the settlement thereby become involved in hostilities.
The Consular Corps at Shanghai has authorized a proclamation against all trouble-makers, but there will be no expulsion without the consent of the consuls. They have also declared that neither side will be allowed to mass troops north of the city, which would endanger the settlements.
Consul Wilder is rightly insisting on judicial procedure.
Vice Consul Gilbert has been asked by Nanking Chamber of Commerce to use his good offices to prevent fighting in Nanking when the rebels retreat from the north. I have some doubt as to the advisability of this and should like instructions.
The Hunan China-American Association asks me to offer my services as peacemaker. This seems to me useless. The Government appears able to suppress the insurrection, which is not supported by the commercial classes of the South and must hence soon collapse. Its sole aim is removal of Yuan, which should be left to settlement by ballot.