893.00/4021
The Secretary of the Navy (Denby) to the Secretary of
State
Washington, September 2,
1921.
27403–340:5
Sir: Referring to your letter of 22 August,
1921, (FE–893.00/3984) relative to the suggestion from the American
Consulate General at Hankow, in which it is indicated that naval convoys
are desired for the protection of American chartered junks through
danger zones in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, I have the honor
to invite attention to a copy of a report from the Commander-in-Chief,
U.S. Asiatic Fleet, herewith enclosed, in which he treats of the policy
being followed in the conduct of naval operations in the Yangtze
River.
In view of the statements contained in the accompanying report, and in
the report dated 7 June, 1921,25 which you acknowledge in the above cited letter,
this Department, before issuing further instructions in the premises to
the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Asiatic Fleet, begs to be informed of the
attitude of the Department of State toward the providing of naval
escorts to vessels not entitled to fly the United States flag.
This Department approves the decision of the Commander-in-Chief, U.S.
Asiatic Fleet, in not placing armed guards on board vessels not entitled
to fly the United States flag. The providing of naval escorts for such
vessels when carrying American cargo introduces a somewhat different
question. Should the Department of State decide that the provision of
such escorts may be considered legitimate under existing circumstances
on the Yangtze River, it is pointed out that naval escorts can not be
provided in all cases on account of the limited number of vessels
available for such duty.
Respectfully,
[Enclosure—Extract]
The Commander in Chief of the Asiatic Fleet
(Strauss) to the Chief of Naval
Operations (Coontz)
Shanghai, July 2,
1921.
01–ly
2105–14–21
1. The Commander in Chief left Shanghai in the Wilmington on June 9th for a general investigating trip up
the Yangtze River. …
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5. The general disturbed conditions in China due to the lack of a
strong central government are emphasized in the Yangtze Valley. The
Department has been informed of the burning and looting of Ichang on
June 11th and that of Wuchang, opposite Hankow, on June 7th. A
general feeling of nervousness is apparent among foreign residents
in the treaty ports of the Yangtze. The Commander [Page 529] in Chief believes that the
apprehensions of the foreigners have considerable foundation and has
instructed the Patrol Commander to keep his Flagship as much as
possible at Hankow in order that he may be centrally located in the
disturbed area. This and the distribution of the various vessels
throughout the valley where trouble may most be expected will it is
hoped provide a reasonable degree of safety for our citizens and
their property.
6. The Department has been advised in a previous communication, dated
7 June 1921, of the arrangement made by the Patrol Commander during
the past winter by which men were detached from vessels and placed
as armed guards aboard junks carrying the freight of the Standard
Oil Company. As soon as the Commander in Chief learned of this he
directed that the practice cease. The Commander in Chief pointed out
to the representatives of the Standard Oil Company the illegality of
hoisting the U.S. Flag on foreign owned bottoms and I informed them
that under the existing rules no protection would be offered such
vessels.
7. Even were it legal to send armed guards aboard the freight junks
the crews of our gunboats are too small to permit them being
depleted for such a purpose. Nor would it be admissible to entrust
enlisted men with such duty unsupervised by their commanding or
other commissioned officer. The Commander in Chief still permits the
guarding of regular steamers flying the U.S. Flag where they are apt
to be threatened by bandits en route up or
down the river. This he does with great reluctance on account of the
inadvisability of weakening the vessels from which the men must be
taken for the purpose. It is probable that the Department will
receive requests from the Standard Oil people in the United States
to continue the practice so unfortunately begun by the Patrol
Commander last winter. For the reason set forth above the Commander
in Chief strongly recommends that this be not done.
8. A copy of a general policy regarding the protection to be afforded
by our river gunboats is herewith enclosed.
[Subenclosure]
The Commander in Chief of the Asiatic Fleet
(Strauss) to the Commander of the
Yangtze Patrol (Wood)
Shanghai, July 3,
1921.
03–my
2165–6–21
1. The Commander in Chief’s policy with respect to the work of the
Yangtze Patrol is as follows:
- (a)
- The primary object of the patrol is to protect the lives
and property of American citizens legitimately residing on
Chinese territory [Page 530]
in the Yangtze Valley at such places as are accessible to
the vessels of the patrol.
- (b)
- This protection will be by force wherever it is clearly
apparent that the local Chinese authorities are failing to
afford such protection. That is to say, where either the
Chinese authorities themselves call on us to aid them, or,
having failed to make a call, the danger to our people is
imminent and undoubted. Of this latter the Patrol Commander
or the Senior Officer Present must be the judge.
- (c)
- In case of suspected danger, arrangements will be made by
which an observer on shore, provided with rockets or other
signal apparatus, may be placed so that in event of the
danger becoming real, proper signals may be sent to the ship
in order that the ship may make all preparations for meeting
the emergency.
- (d)
- Commanding Officers will keep in close touch with the
Consul on shore or, in his absence, with reliable Americans,
in order that they may be kept informed of the condition of
affairs.
- (e)
- Vessels of the patrol will be kept at disturbed points or
where they may readily reach them.
- (f)
- With the present force, care must be exercised that the
meager landing force of each vessel be not weakened by
detaching members of the crew to form armed guards for
vessels legitimately flying the U.S. flag, unless such
action is very necessary.
- (g)
- No action which needlessly infringes on the neutrality of
Chinese territory will be taken. Care must always be
exercised to avoid wounding the national sensibilities of
the Chinese.
- (h)
- Vessels are entitled to fly the U.S. flag when they are
duly registered U.S. merchant vessels, or are wholly owned
by U.S. citizens, or U.S. citizens own a controlling
interest in them. Such ownership must be authenticated by
consular documents.
