893.00/6875: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 24—10:39 a.m.]
544. My telegram number 542, December 23, 10 p.m.
1. Meeting of interested ministers this morning; agreed to send the following identic telegram to their respective Governments.
“In spite of the assurances given by the commandants of the forces several attempts to restore the operations of the international train between Peking and Tientsin on the one hand and Tientsin and Shanhaikwan on the other were unsuccessful, the train from Shanhaikwan having had to return in face of the danger of being fired on.
The interested representatives, believing that this apparently deliberate violation of the protocol may be utilized in a campaign for the abolition of existing treaties, think it desirable, independently of the protestations already made, to affirm the necessity of effectually maintaining free communications with the sea.
The use of force may be necessary and it being likely to lead to complications which it would be preferable to avoid, they request instructions of their respective Governments.”
2. Senior minister was also requested to telegraph senior commandant of international forces at Tientsin that ministers think it at present inadvisable to renew attempt to run international train to Shanhaikwan unless in the judgment of the commandants that may be done safely and without incurring attack.
3. Since the meeting the senior minister has received word from the local representative of Marshal Feng that the latter has already telegraphed instructions to the division commander concerned that the international train must be allowed to pass without let or hindrance.
[Page 626]4. It now appears that Feng forces have today occupied Tientsin.
5. Arrangements have been made by which international Peking train now here should be able to go through to Tientsin immediately upon completion of necessary repairs to the line.