893.00/7202: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 18—7:25 p.m.]
138. 1. On the afternoon of March 17th representatives of Kuomintang demonstration besieged the Foreign Office in the endeavor to force the Vice Minister to approve a draft prepared for the purpose by the Soviet Embassy in reply to the demands of the powers concerning Taku incident, instead of the note which was actually sent by the Foreign Office to the Senior Minister, as reported in paragraph 2 of my 137, March 18, 7 p.m. Demonstrators also visited the Chief Executive’s residence, and participants claim that some of them were bayoneted by the bodyguard when attempting to force entrance. This morning another demonstration was organized and about two thousand attempted to force entrance into the Chief Executive’s office. The bodyguard, forewarned, first repelled demonstrators with cudgels and subsequently about half past 1, apparently without other warning, fired into the crowd. Seemingly accurate reports state 17 were killed and about 40 wounded. Bodyguard are not regular Kuominchun troops but remnants of Fengtien force.
2. Demonstrations yesterday and today were against the demands of the protocol powers relative to Taku matter. Japan and Great Britain especially singled out, but the slogans included cancelation of the protocol and eviction of the protocol ministers. Demands of protocol powers were represented as a threat of war against China. Demonstrations were directed also against the present Government and Tuan in particular. …
3. City apparently quiet. Acting head of police is reported, from reliable official sources, to have issued special instructions for the protection of foreign residents.
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