893.51/4580
The Secretary of State to the British Ambassador (Howard)
Excellency: With reference to your note No. 280 of March 26, 1924, concerning the naval demonstration at Canton, and supplementing my reply thereto of March 31, 1924, I have the honor to inform you that the American Minister at Peking, in a telegram, dated April 9, 1924,30 reports that, although there is still some uncertainty as to what Sun Yat-sen may do, such uncertainty is not greater now than it would be at a future date, and that there is no other reason for continuing the naval demonstration. The Minister further states that both he and his colleagues are of the opinion that no declaration should be made at the time of the withdrawal of the extra vessels, but that the Consuls should make it known in their private conversation that the ships would return if Sun indicates [Page 411] any intention of carrying out his threat to seize the Customs, or should he attack, or prepare to attack, the Custom House.
Accept [etc.]
- Not printed.↩