893.102 Ic/23
The Secretary of the Navy ( Denby ) to the Secretary of State
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge your letter of 20 August, 1921 (FE–),24 relative to an informal letter received from the Secretary of the British Embassy by a member of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs, in which the former suggests that additional instructions be sent to the United States Naval authorities in the Yangtze River, with a view to providing for contingencies in the Yangtze Valley that might render desirable concerted action by the naval forces of the principal Powers, stating that it is his understanding that the United States Naval authorities in those ports are already in possession of instructions which will enable them to concert with their colleagues the measures necessary for the protection of foreign lives and property.
The situation in the Yangtze Valley is covered in a naval way by six patrol craft of the U.S. Navy and units from the British, Japanese, and French Navies. An additional patrol vessel has recently left the United States for Yangtze River work, and, upon arrival, will become the Flagship of Rear Admiral W. H. G. Bullard, U.S. Navy, now en route to the Asiatic Station and under orders as Commander Yangtze Patrol Force, U.S. Asiatic Fleet.
A working agreement exists among the naval units of the various Powers, with the probable exception of Japanese units, that contemplates concerted action to afford protection to the lives and, so far as conditions permit, to the property of foreigners resident within the immediate theatre of action of any of the gunboats operating in Yangtze waters. Foreign nationals seeking protection have to come within the limits prescribed by the gunboat in affording protection to its own nationals. When two or more gunboats of different Powers are in the same disturbed area, the gunboats act to protect the lives and property of all nationals, each gunboat primarily guarding the interests of its own nationals. When circumstances and time permit, it has been customary to defer extension of overt protection to foreign nationals until a written request from the foreign naval or consular authority in the region has been received.
The Department considers the situation, from the standpoint of the United States Navy, suitably covered as to co-operation with foreign naval units in the protection of the lives and property of foreign nationals.
Respectfully,
- Not printed.↩