893.00/6464
The Consul General at Canton (Jenkins) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 1.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my telegram of June 24, 12 o’clock noon, to the Department and to the Legation concerning the brief but sharp firing that occurred on the afternoon of June 23rd between Chinese troops on one side and British and French bluejackets on the other.
Revised figures show that forty-three Chinese were killed and about seventy wounded, including soldiers, students, and several women. On the British-French side the casualties were one killed (a French merchant) and five wounded including the Commissioner of the Chinese Maritime Customs, Mr. Edwards, as well as a Japanese merchant and several British bluejackets.
As the Department will recall from my telegrams to the Legation the Chinese announced a demonstration against “unequal treaties”, foreign concessions, et cetera, for June 23. It was known that this demonstration would pass partly around Shameen, and that it would probably consist of soldiers as well as students and laborers. For these reasons the British and French authorities, as well as other foreigners residing in the Shameen concessions, naturally became apprehensive for their safety. It was realized that the Chinese were greatly excited because of anti-foreign propaganda and that the procession might easily develop into a mob and attack Shameen. Warnings were addressed to the local authorities by the British and French consuls urging that the procession not be permitted to pass near Shameen and that the Chinese Government take every possible precaution to prevent an outbreak.
This Consulate General also addressed a communication to the authorities calling attention to anti-foreign propaganda and asking for an assurance that American lives and property would be protected. No reply was received by this office from the Civil Governor, but on the afternoon of June 22 a personal letter came from the Chief [Page 752] of Police to the effect that he was doing everything he could to prevent an outbreak and did not think there would be any disorders.
Mr. C. C. Wu, I am informed, gave verbal assurances to the British Consul General that order would be maintained, but as the British and French consuls did not feel that the local authorities could be relied upon to protect the foreign concessions steps were taken for defence in the event of trouble. Barricades were constructed on the back bund facing the native city and machine guns were placed at strategic points. The volunteer corps was also called upon to stand by.
The procession appeared about 2:30 p.m. It was orderly and at first consisted only of students, Boy Scouts, laborers, et cetera. For about half an hour it continued to pass Shameen and as there was no sign of trouble onlookers began to breathe with more ease, feeling that the danger of an outbreak was over.
It was then observed, however, that soldiers were bringing up the rear of the procession and that they were armed. These troops consisted of Whampoa Cadets and ordinary Cantonese contingents. No actual count could be made but it is estimated there were more than a thousand men in line.
Just as the first of the troops reached a point in front of the Victoria Hotel near the British bridge the procession stopped, probably because of some congestion ahead. The troops began to show signs of nervousness and the students and civilians nearby seemed to increase their yelling and waving. Suddenly the soldiers were seen to break their formation and a shot rang out. This was followed by several more in rapid succession, and then a perfect din of rifles and machine guns began.
It is impossible to say from which side the first shot was fired. The British and other foreigners are practically unanimous in declaring that a Chinese fired first, but the Chinese assert that the shot came from Shameen. At any rate the firing spread rapidly along the bund and the French were hotly engaged almost immediately after the British. Heavy firing lasted about fifteen minutes, bullets smashing into houses facing the canal and striking the trees and roofs of buildings all over the two concessions. The mystery is that more Europeans were not killed or wounded.
A large motorboat from the U. S. S. Asheville happened to be lying off the front bund when the shooting commenced and it was soon filled with refugees who were taken out to the ship. A wounded Japanese civilian was also picked up and carried over to a Japanese destroyer lying off the concessions. Other refugees kept crowding on the front bund and soon the boats from the warships were busy transferring people to the river steamer Honam which had been anchored nearby with this very purpose in view.
[Page 753]The Honam sailed early the next morning with several hundred refugees for Hongkong. In the afternoon another steamer left with many women and children so that all who wanted to leave were able to get away. The Chinese section of the Honam’s crew had struck and a detail of twelve men from the U. S. S. Asheville assisted the European officers on the run down to Hongkong. All American and British women have left Shameen and so have most of those of other nationalities although a few French and Japanese women and children still remain. A few American women and children continue to live in the missions in the suburbs but these are being urged to go.
As can well be imagined the shooting has produced much bitterness and excitement amongst the Chinese who suffered such unexpectedly great losses. There does not seem to be so much feeling against the French although a large proportion of the casualties were evidently inflicted by French machine guns. The British are blamed for starting the shooting. The Japanese had no part in the Canton affair but they are blamed for their part in the Shanghai troubles. The boycott is directed against the British, French, and Japanese but not against the Americans.
From their side the English insist that the first shots came from the Chinese and that the British officers did everything in their power to stop the firing as soon as possible. They regret the large number of casualties and especially the killing of students, but point out that the concessions were being attacked by fully armed Chinese soldiers who far outnumbered the European defenders. The students were near the soldiers and probably came under an indirect fire.
It is estimated by the French that fully a thousand armed Chinese troops were facing Shameen at the moment the shooting commenced. In addition more troops were seen extended down the native bund.
The people on Shameen were afraid that there would be trouble while the parade was passing and the Consuls and naval authorities concerned took every possible precaution to prevent an outbreak, and at the same time safeguard the concessions. Everyone deplores the affair which can only serve to increase the difficulties of an already complicated and dangerous situation.
No foreigners have gone into the native city since the shooting and it will probably be a long time before they will find it safe to move about freely, except Germans and Russians who will probably wear arm bands indicating their nationality. In the suburbs conditions are easier for the Chinese are more or less personally acquainted with the foreigners they see there. Business is at a standstill.
No steps have been taken as yet to open negotiations for a settlement and it will probably be some days before anything can be done. Every effort is now being directed toward the prevention of another [Page 754] outbreak which could easily develop into something far more serious than the affair of June 23.
As this is being written the French and British are busily engaged in strengthening the defenses of the two concessions. More barricades are being erected and the system of communication improved. There are rumors that troops are massed in the city behind Shameen and that another demonstration may be expected shortly. The more responsible leaders are doing their best to calm the people but the students, who are evidently under Russian Soviet influence, are insisting that the Chinese dead must be avenged.
No one knows what is going to happen. Each day brings a new crop of rumors, some of which seem reasonable while others are mere nonsense. Shameen is an armed fort to all intents and purposes and it is no exaggeration to say that a state of war exists although there is no active warfare at the moment. The strike is complete on the island and shipping is almost paralyzed, only a few Chinese owned steamers being in operation. The question is, how long is it going to last? Things may go on as they are for weeks and even months. The Chinese are almost if not quite as much inconvenienced as are the foreigners for there is practically no communication with the outside world and food supplies will soon be running low.
The Canton affair may and will be adjusted after a fashion, but it is evident there can be no real stability and friendliness in China’s relations with foreigners until some plan is found and put into effect for the readjustment of China’s status with the Powers.
I have [etc.]