861.00/3674
The Acting Secretary of State to the British Chargé (Barclay)
Memorandum
The Acting Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Britannic Majesty’s Chargé d’Affaires and in reply to the suggestion presented in the latter’s Memorandum No. 57 of January 20, 1919, desires to raise a question as to the advisability of the proposed action at this time, for the following reasons:
China is now in an unsettled condition and banditry is prevalent in many quarters, the Government being apparently unable to give ordinary protection either to its own people or to foreigners residing in the interior. The Chinese coolies whom it is now proposed to repatriate have become accustomed to the use of force in its most bestial form and the introduction of this element in large numbers into the present disturbed state of China might lead to a dangerous situation. It is suggested that it would be preferable that the coolies be returned gradually and that the Chinese Government supervise their distribution to different parts of China so that they will not in force endanger the peace of any locality.
[Page 192]The Acting Secretary of State would be glad, before reaching a decision, to have the views of His Britannic Majesty’s Government on the above question.