893.00/11224a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Johnson)
339. 1. New York Times, September 27, carries Washington despatch with headline “Weighs Plan to End Yangtze Red Raids”. Text contains paragraph: “Officials denied today that there was any concrete plan and it was also denied that any proposal for concerted action had been received from any of the other interested Powers”. This statement correct, headline misleading.
2. Nevertheless, the Department is deeply concerned over the increasing frequency and severity of armed exchanges between Chinese forces on the banks of the Yangtze and American naval vessels. The Department notes that these attacks are generally attributed to “communist or Red” bands. Department doubts whether this characterization adequately explains all such incidents and believes that new and authoritative information with regard to sources and objects of the Chinese firing should be sought.
3. Department believes that American authorities in China cannot be too often reminded of the policy of this Government to avoid as far as may be compatible with the performance of their duties armed encounter with the Chinese. Department is aware of Commander in Chief’s standing orders and is confident that Commander in Chief fully understands and approves the policy laid down by the Administration. Department therefore desires that you discuss this situation and problem informally with him and requests that both you and he seek information with regard to the instigation, source and objective of the Chinese firing.
4. Unless you feel it inadvisable, Department desires also that you address to the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs a telegram giving the details of typical recent incidents in which American naval vessels have been obliged to protect themselves from unprovoked attacks and expressing the earnest hope of this Government that the National Government will take measures to put an end to the occurrence of these incidents.
[Page 191]5. Repeat to Hankow and Nanking for confidential comment regarding the facts in the situation and possible method of reducing the number of these encounters.
6. Inform Department of views and any action taken.