793.94/2686: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:55 a.m.]
307. The following is the text of a letter dated November 13th from Sze to Drummond which the latter handed to Everett late yesterday evening: [Page 438]
“The situation at Tientsin remains grave and threatens the most serious complication at any moment, as shown by the following telegram just received from my Government
‘Firing resumed Tientsin 6:30 morning; rioters attacking near Sanpeikwan; simultaneously Chinese police machine gunned near Tingkungsu from direction of Japanese Concession; shell dropping before Chinese barriers; assailants unknown. Tientsin authorities formally requested consular corps arrange four [for?] national garrisons organizations 300–meter observation, if possible international patrol. President urging American, British and French Ministers, today issue requisite instructions.’
I should be grateful if you could urgently convey this information to the President of the Council, to the British members of the Council and to the American representative, with the request that they be good enough to secure prompt action by their Governments in the sense desired, in order to avoid the shedding of more blood.”
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