893.00/10463: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
431. My 400, May 18, 4 p.m. Following from American Consul at Swatow:
“May 28, 4 p.m. U. S. S. Tulsa arrived at Swatow evening 21st. On the 23rd morning three Chinese warships arrived here and sent representatives to me with the request that I assist them to meet the commandant of the hundred and fifty Kwangsi troops in Swatow, informing me that they intended to demand the surrender of Swatow on threat of bombardment. I arranged to have the commandant call at the Consulate to meet the representatives. I declined to be present at the conference and do not know what demands were made or the replies thereto. I was informed by both parties that nothing was accomplished. On the 24th morning I accompanied Captain Decker to call on the commander of the Chinese warships to ascertain his intentions (his representatives had informed me on the day before that he would bombard the city should it not surrender immediately). The commander of the Chinese warships stated that he did not [apparent omission] to bombard the city if it could be avoided. He requested that Captain Decker and I arrange a meeting between himself and the local commander. The conference took place on board the Tulsa the 24th afternoon with no result. One of the war vessels left for Hong Kong the 25th evening, two for Amoy the 26th morning. There are about one thousand Kwangsi troops in Chaochowfu and one hundred and fifty in Swatow. I have been informed privately that Chang Chen will make a general attack on the Kwangsi forces today. All inland communications are cut off and all shops are closed today.”
- Telegram in two sections.↩