Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1926, Volume I

893.00/7138: Telegram

The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State

Peking, March 2, 1926—4 p.m.
[Received March 2—9:25 a.m.]

107. Following transmitted to commander in chief, United States Asiatic Fleet:

• “1. Under date of March 1st, American consul Tsingtau reports departure from that port for Taku of expedition consisting of naval transport Hwaichia and two merchant transports with about 5,000 troops as well as war vessels Haichi, Haishen, Chuyu and Tung Hsiang and that a further force of about 5,000 reported to have left Tsingtau yesterday for Taku by way of Weihsien and Chefoo, owing to insufficient transport by sea from Tsingtau.
• 2. With a view to the probability of repetition of incidents such as the search of the West Jessup,⁸ recommend the immediate despatch of destroyer to Taku in addition to continuance of ships at Chefoo and Tsingtau.”

MacMurray

8. While anchored at Taku Bar on Feb. 5, the S. S. West Jessup of the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corp. was boarded and searched by the commander of the Chinese gunboat Chin Hai.