893.8007/37: Telegram
The Minister in China ( MacMurray ) to the Secretary of State
1106. Legation’s Number 1045, November 29, noon.
1. Following from Canton:
“December 16, noon. In reply to your telegram November 10, noon.71 Believe that the present moment is inauspicious time to present either joint or identic note on the subject of piracy. Present Cantonese military coterie in order to clear Kwangtung of Kwangsi troops are enlisting support of both bandits and pirates. I am convinced and such is testimony of many Chinese that prominent Cantonese general in this group is leader and under-cover man for various bands operating in the vicinity of Canton. Recent looted American cargo pirated within ten miles of Canton was sold in open market and also names of shops dealing in this pirated cargo were given to [Page 340] Chinese authorities; no action was taken. Li Chai-sum72 just previous to departure attempted without success to transfer this general to another theatre of operations.
Also present leaders were former Reds and within limits they are curbing radical laborers and showing a more friendly feeling towards foreigners. This is being done partly under the influence of the Foreign Commissioner Chu Chao-hsin, Chinese former representative at Geneva, who assumed the duties of office November 26th. If at the crisis of Cantonese attempt to clear the Province of Kwangsi troops the powers took action of the nature suggested, it might drive them towards the Russians again or have antiforeign repercussions.
Believe that offer of powers to cooperate in suppression of piracy would be ineffectual since British have not attained any success by similar offers in the past.
Another difficulty is that the Cantonese authorities at Canton may not exercise effective control over particular district in which any one band operates, the members of which may be working in collusion with local military forces hostile to political group in Canton.
Both Department and commander in chief appear to be under misapprehension regarding piracies of American ships in Kwangtung waters. Since July 1926 five Standard Oil Company boats have been pirated. Total losses amount to $53,000 Hong Kong currency. Three of these have occurred since August 1927 up shallow creeks where present Navy boats or those under construction cannot penetrate. All these five piracies occurred since practice of convoy was instituted and at times when company believed that [those?] districts in place [particular?] were safe and convoy was not needed. If company had made continuous shipments as in past years without convoy at all times it is doubtful if a single shipment would have gone through unmolested.
Believe the commander in chief is in error regarding connection between boycott and piracies.
Believe that when local situation is slightly stabilized an opportunity will offer itself to make representations to local authorities by joint or similar note in concert with other powers, but feel that subsequent action if necessary should be taken only as the necessity arose either singly or in cooperation with the British at the discretion of the commander in chief and patrol commander after consulting consulate and Chinese authorities.
Am convinced that naval authorities cannot deal effectually with situation unless suggestion contained at the bottom of page 3 of my despatch number 661 of October 31st [21st]73 is carried out.”
2. The suggestion of American consul at Canton referred to in last paragraph of his telegram is as follows:
“I am of the opinion that the only way in which to cope with this menace is the stationing of two well-armed launches to act as auxiliaries to whatever gunboat is stationed in the harbor at the time. [Page 341] These armed launches should be approximately 70 feet long by 16 feet broad, should have a horsepower of 200 to 250 and a speed of approximately 18 to 20 knots. They should be armed with 2 quick-firing guns and about 4 to 8 machine guns. An officer with 12 men would be a sufficient crew to man one of these auxiliary vessels. So far, the American naval authorities at Canton have been unable to follow these pirates up the shallow creeks and rivers where they usually take the pirated ship and cargo.”