Office of the Historian

893.00/7201: Telegram

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

Peking, March 18, 1926—7 p.m.
[Received March 18—3:22 p.m.]

137. My 134, March 16, 5 p.m.

1.
In view of satisfactory assurances from the commander of Tsingtau flotilla and from Kuominchun authorities at Tientsin, as well as from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, I have informed our naval authorities that no further naval action is required in connection with the opening of communications between Tientsin and the sea.
2.
The following is the substance of a note, dated March 17th, received last evening by the Senior Minister from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, to wit: Foreign Office stated it had immediately forwarded to the competent military authorities Senior Minister’s note of March 16th communicating to it the notification which naval commanders of the several powers in Tientsin had transmitted to both Chinese “belligerent parties” in Taku. “In conformity with the stipulations of the protocol of 1901 the free communication between Peking and the sea must remain unobstructed, a principle which the Chinese Government has always respected.” Then follow excuses for restrictions upon navigation as a result of warfare near Taku and statement that Chinese forces had been doing everything possible to restore free communication between Peking and the sea. The note thereafter complains of the impatience of the protocol powers and the fixing of a time limit for a reply to their demands which the Chinese Government cannot recognize as equitable. It then states that competent Chinese military authorities have been authorized to take the proper measures with regard to the five demands and requests ministers with naval forces at Tientsin to authorize their naval commanders in Tientsin to enter into relations with local military authorities in order that they may find together proper ways and means for maintenance of communication to the sea. The note closes with the statement that it is essential that no recourse should be had to extreme methods, especially in view of the friendly relations which exist between China and the foreign powers.
3.
Fuller report to follow.
4.
Repeated to Tokyo.
MacMurray