893.00/10556: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
Peiping, October 12, 1929—5
p.m.
[Received October 13—12:07 p.m.]
[Received October 13—12:07 p.m.]
881. Legation’s 863, October 7, 3 p.m.1
- 1.
- Commander in chief informs me that foreign steamship lines have been approached by the Chinese military authorities at Chungking with a view to having these lines submit bids for transporting troops at one-quarter of the regular fare. He adds that the British Admiral has instructed British vessels to refuse to carry troops, but that according to information from Chungking the French attitude is that their merchant vessels would carry unarmed troops but would not transport arms and ammunition. The Admiral has instructed the commander of the Yangtze Patrol not to permit the seizure of American vessels for this purpose but has told him not to write to the companies forbidding it since this prohibition is not a naval function. He tells me that he is informed that the Chinese attitude in the matter was adopted in order to relieve Chinese steamers of the duty of carrying troops so as not to disturb their trade.
- 2.
- Department’s instruction as to attitude to be adopted by the Legation concerning advice to be given American shipping companies is requested.
MacMurray
- Not printed.↩