893.00/11067: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Johnson)
264. Reference Department’s 259, August 2, 1 p.m., and 260, August 2, 2 p.m. British Ambassador called August 5 and presented an aide-mémoire75 in which apprehension is expressed that communists may seize Hankow and statement is made that if Chinese Government is not able to afford adequate protection, British Government proposes to utilize troops from Shanghai in addition to naval landing parties for that purpose and that British Government would be glad to learn whether it can count on cooperation of American Government in the action which it proposes to take and that it is addressing similar inquiries in Paris and Tokyo to French and Japanese Governments.
Department has informed British Ambassador that it has not regarded the situation as sufficiently critical as yet to warrant considering need for a definite plan for international cooperation; that we should have no thought in disapproval of troop movements by other Governments for protection of their nationals; that our officers in China have general orders under which they exercise discretion and that they could in a critical situation land forces; that they have what they apparently consider sufficient naval forces at Hankow; and that they have not intimated that there is need of special measures or new instructions. The British Ambassador stated that the danger which his Government apparently most feared was an uprising in Hankow itself. The reply was made that this Government was alive to that danger.
French Embassy has informed Department that British Embassy, Paris, made similar approach to French Foreign Office. Department’s view of situation was outlined to Counselor as above.
Department requests your opinion (a) whether special arrangement for international cooperation is in any way called for, and (b) whether any special instructions are needed. Department wishes also to have estimate of Consulate General, Hankow, with regard to (1) danger of Hankow being attacked from outside, (2) danger of Chinese uprising inside Hankow.
- Dated August 4; not printed.↩