893.00/8361: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in China (MacMurray)
[Paraphrase]
Washington, March 9,
1927—6 p.m.
84. Your No. 200, March 8, 4 p.m. and Department’s No. 72, February 22, 11 a.m. [February 25, 2 p.m.]
- 1.
- In replying to commander in chief’s No. 0007–1800, the Navy made reference to the instruction given in last paragraph of Department’s telegram 72, and instructed him to exercise his personal judgment.
- 2.
- After consultation with Navy Department, State Department regards the present instructions to commander in chief as providing as fully as is practicable for military exigencies. This Department similarly leaves it to your discretion to make a decision in consultation with the commander in chief upon the measures which may be essential to protect American life and property in the Shanghai region and on the Whangpoo River. It is desired by the Department that you avoid, firstly, interference with the military measures of the Chinese unless indispensably necessary to protect American life and property, and secondly, commitments to other foreign powers as to protective measures. Movements of Chinese troops and naval vessels should not be made the occasion, except as a measure of demonstrable necessity for protection in each instance, for representations or for other action.
- 3.
- The Department’s views have been made known to Navy Department.
Grew