893.5045/108: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Mayer) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:30 p.m.]
257. Heads of Legation yesterday sent following instructions to senior consul at Shanghai in respect of the vicinity of Shanghai International Settlement involved in the incident of May 30th, last, and containing recommendations concerning revision of police regulations. It is proposed shortly to make public and inform Foreign Office of all except penultimate paragraph of the instruction. I shall report to the Department when release may be made:
“The representatives of the powers concerned consider it impracticable [sic], after a thorough examination of the incidents which took place on May 30th, last, at Shanghai, and, after having taken cognizance of the report of their delegates, have come to the following conclusions:
[Page 675]1. It is to be regretted that the chairman of the Municipal Council, although aware of the situation and of the developments likely to ensue, did not cause all adequate precautionary measures to be taken especially in regard to the police.
Consequently the heads of missions feel compelled to express the opinion that his conduct is not devoid of blame.
2. Colonel McEuen, commissioner of police, after being informed of the events which were impending, nevertheless considered himself justified in leaving his post, indeed more than an hour and a quarter elapsed between the moment when the demonstrators entered the International Settlement and that when the shots were fired but during all this time Colonel McEuen was not at his post. Finally, it does not appear that he made the necessary arrangements to disperse the demonstrators and obtain control of the demonstration. He thus showed negligence, lack of judgment and lack of professional ability. His is the responsibility therefore primarily involved.
The diplomatic representatives concerned consider that he should be replaced.
3. Inspector Everson being a subordinate official could not do otherwise than carry out the orders given him, the more so as he was necessarily apprehensive of the sacking of the Louza police station. He can at most be criticised for a certain lack of judgment in having refused reenforcements owing to his belief that the demonstration would not assume a dangerous character.
4. The diplomatic representatives concerned, being of the opinion that the police regulations are defective especially those dealing with disturbances and riots and that they constitute one of the causes of the incidents, consider that they must be modified and made public. It is indispensable in such circumstances that any recourse to arms by the police should be preceded by a warning (such as the sounding of a bugle) comprehensible to all and capable of being heard at a distance.
In acquainting the Municipal Council with the arrangements described above, the diplomatic representatives concerned, desirous of settling the incident in a spirit of justice and equity, recommend to it the immediate adoption of the measures mentioned under numbers 2 and 4 which will, they consider, do much to allay public opinion and bring back a normal state of affairs.
Having thus given proof of their sincere desire as far as practicable they are concerned to ascertain and fix the responsibility in the matter. The diplomatic representatives concerned feel bound to declare that they are satisfied that arrangements for the demonstrations were made on Chinese territory. The Chinese Government must, therefore, on their part, take energetic measures to fix responsibility where it belongs and inflict penalties upon the officials responsible. Moreover, in order to prevent the recurrence of similar incidents, it is indispensable that in the future the authorities of the Chinese city and those of the Concession shall maintain a close contact with the object of assuring an effective collaboration for the maintenance of order.”