893.00/10889: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 9—10:30 a.m.]
424. Legation’s 422, June 9, 3 p.m. With reference to the situation at Amoy a mail despatch from Putnam dated May 29 explains that a band of some 70 Communists carried out on May 25 a raid on the Amoy prison. After capturing the prison, killing the warden and assistants, they released 54 prisoners about half of whom are Communists. In a report dated May 27 the Kulangsu foreign chief of police states:
“The Communists have deliberately delivered a successful attack against the Amoy authorities, and the public of Amoy are of the opinion that the attack will be followed by others culminating in a general civil uprising. In this regard Kulangsu by its status as an international settlement is very susceptible to an attack. If this challenge is to pass without a successful counter the situation will immediately become critical, and a reign of terror will, in the near future, without a warning of any kind, overtake Amoy and possibly involve Kulangsu.”