893.00/9567: Telegram
The Consul General at Hankow (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 11—1:40 p.m.]
38. Following sent to the Legation:
“October 31, 10 p.m. I arrived Ichang, October 22nd, and left 25th arriving Changsha 28th, and here today.
Conditions at Ichang and along upper river extremely unsettled. Organized banditry is rife, practically all merchant ships departing for Chungking being robbed or looted from 1 to 4 times each trip. Bandits often board ships at Ichang robbing officers and passengers en route, sometimes conducting looting operations ashore at night when ship anchored. Robbers have close liaison with bandits ashore to whom they frequently send signals; there is no apparent effort being made to suppress activities. No merchant vessel of any nationality [Page 311] escapes robbery, looting or commandeering en route unless escorted by a naval vessel. The bandits collect from the ship’s officers or the company agents at Ichang from six hundred to four thousand dollars each round trip but the sums usually collected range from two thousand to three thousand dollars. Several bandits’ stations along river and there is promiscuous firing on foreign merchant ships from the river banks, in some cases by machine guns. Soldiers on board a commandeered French ship fired on the Iping of the Yangtze Rapid[s] Company on the 23rd, just above Ichang. Rather than run the gauntlet of rifle fire and banditry several captains of long experience on the upper river have resigned their jobs in spite of the extra month’s pay as bonus for each trip. There have been two recent cases of holdups of foreigners by bandits in the harbor at Ichang and the five foreigners living ashore there dare not venture out at night.
The Chungking manager of the Standard Oil Company abandoned on his own volition any attempt to proceed to Chungking. It was either pay your way through or shoot your Way through and being opposed in principle to such a course he decided not to make the attempt.
I spent several hours ashore each day at Ichang and conferred at length with the civil and military officials but I was unable to discover one hopeful sign of any improvement in the situation in the near future notwithstanding assurances that bandits, savagery, and lawlessness along the upper river would soon be suppressed. The Ichang authorities appear to consider themselves independent of both the Hankow and Nanking regimes as well as of the Szechuan military of whom they entertain great fear. There is a growing feeling that Yang Sen will shortly attempt to recapture Ichang and both there and at Shasi I found an atmosphere of tenseness and a fear of military invasion.
The head of the opium tax bureau at Ichang informed me that slightly over five hundred thousand dollars was collected from opium taxes in September. There is reason to believe that the present well-organized system of banditry and near piracy is associated with a scheme to collect revenues to support the military. There are other important phases of the situation which I hope to subsequently discuss with you.
My visit to Ichang has convinced me of the futility of attempting to resume business and missionary activities in Szechuan at this time and even with naval protection, which is not now available, I [doubt?] if the risk involved would warrant the attempt which at most would be under such serious handicaps that but little could actually be accomplished for the time being. I am further convinced that conditions at Ichang are such that the establishment of a consulate or the stationing of a vice consul there under present conditions is not warranted. I had hoped that such an agent might be found to be feasible but a careful survey of the place and a study of existing conditions there persuade me that no substantial advantage would accrue. I strongly oppose such course unless the officer can function and carry on his business on a naval vessel and I consider this an ill-advised policy as a permanent arrangement.
It is difficult to overestimate the present unsettled state of affairs on this river at and above Ichang and with the possible exception of Chungking conditions are worse than they have been for about a month.
[Page 312]On the way down, 9 steamers and about 30 junks under the American flag filled with soldiers were passed near Kienli proceeding up river.
From Chianglingki [Chenglingki?] zone, on account of low water, trip was made in motor launch. Conditions along the Siang River and Tungting lake are quiet, as well as at Changsha, as business is reviving and good order is being maintained. I found no evidence of antiforeign feeling in going about the city although it was thoroughly posted [with?] propaganda circulars. Silver is plentiful and the few foreign businessmen there, 2 being Americans, report a revival of trade. There are 3 American missionaries there who are carrying on evangelical but no educational work.
The present quiet conditions at Changsha may be adversely affected by developments in the quarrels between the Hankow and Nanking factions but in case no untoward incident occurs in the meantime I would consider it advantageous to send an unmarried officer to Changsha in about thirty days to reopen. There would seem to be no objection to business concerns and missionary organizations also sending a few men there to look after their affairs. It would be inexpedient for women to return as the [facilities?] for evacuation would be extremely meagre and uncertain in case of an emergency at this time during the low-water stage from November to April. If Yale in China is to continue as an American body corporate it would seem to be particularly advisable that steps be taken to resume participation in its affairs in the near future. Until high water returns or until the major factional disturbances diminished, a general return of Americans to Changsha however would not seem to be advisable; but skeleton organizations of both business concerns and missionary societies would appear to be in order if those may understand the only assistance which could be rendered at present in case of trouble will be through the Chinese authorities and that neither police regulations or economic conditions can be said to be entirely settled and that obstacles and inconveniences may be expected. Undeniably reservations [sic] Changsha offers a field of endeavor from which interested Americans would do well not to detach themselves for too long a period.”