893.00/3410
The Consul General at Hankow (Heintzleman) to the Secretary of
State
Hankow, June 12,
1920.
[Received July 21.]
No. 57
Sir: With reference to my despatch No. 30
of April 6, 1920,52
regarding the disturbances in the British Concession at Kiukiang on
March 14, 1920, when several Chinese coolies were injured by
American sailors in the landing party which had been put ashore at
the time, I have the honor to enclose copy of a despatch, in
translation, dated June 5, 1920, received by me from the Civil
Governor of Kiangsi on the subject.
From the enclosure the Department will note that the matter has been
amicably adjusted. I am also glad to be able to report that the
incident, so far as the United States Navy had any connection
therewith, has left no ill-feeling on the part of either the native
officials or populace against the United States men-of-war on the
Yangtze or American residents in this region.
I have [etc.]
[Page 805]
[Enclosure—Translation]
The Civil Governor of Kiangsi
(Chi
Yang) to the American
Consul General at Hankow (Heintzleman)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your despatch of April 6, 1920 (in Chinese and
foreign texts), regarding the recent disturbances at Kiukiang,
wherein you state, with particular reference to the Chinese
injured by American sailors, that you have carefully
investigated the matter; that, as a result of your
investigations and inquiries it has been found that the three
Chinese who have been wounded have recovered; that it is
reported that the British Municipal Council at Kiukiang is
paying such expenses as were incurred in rendering medical
treatment to the Chinese wounded; and that, as the American
sailors in question went ashore on the British Concession merely
to restore order and at the request of the British Consul, no
responsibility therefor attaches to the American authorities.
You add that you have requested the Commander of the Yangtze
Patrol to caution the officers under his command to be very
careful in future in their actions during periods of civil
commotions of any sort, etc.
In this connection, I have to inform you that I am in receipt of
a report from the local authorities at Kiukiang to the effect
that Chen Hung-mei and Liao Chia-ping have recovered from their
wounds, but that the wounds received by Tao Chang-sen were
pretty heavy and, though he has been in the hospital for two
months, he has not yet fully recovered. The medical expenses
connected with this case have been fully paid by the British
Municipal Council and the entire case has been amicably settled
by the British Consul and the local authorities. Therefore,
naturally it should not be taken up further.
Regarding the acts of American naval vessels, your courtesy in
requesting the Commander of the Yangtze Patrol to caution the
officers under his command that they should be very careful in
their actions during periods of local disturbances of any sort
shows your good-will and I trust that the commanding officers of
the various gunboats will heed your request in restricting their
actions, and that hereafter there will be no repetition of such
actions as were witnessed during the recent disorders.
With compliments,
Signature and Seal of
Chi Yang
