893.00/11492
The Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs (C. T. Wang) to the American Minister in China (Johnson)43
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that a telegram has been received from the Ichang Area Garrison Headquarters, stating:
“Since the Red bandits under Ho Lung were recently commandeering vessels in the upper course of the river above Ichang with a view to pressing upon Ichang, a circular telegram was despatched sometime ago announcing that the various merchant vessels should temporarily suspend sailings in order to avoid danger. With the object of strengthening defenses, detachments were sent to take precautions and examine the vessels sailing down river in order to prevent anything untoward.
“Inadvertently on the 8th instant, S. S. Iping of the Yangtze Rapid Steamship Company sailed down river. She was ordered to stop. She sweepingly fired machine guns. More than twenty officials and soldiers were either killed or wounded. Please hold negotiations at once.”
The Ichang Area Garrison Headquarters sent its detachments to take precautions by examining the vessels sailing down river in order to prevent the Red bandits from pressing upon Ichang. This is of course a proper measure. The S. S. Iping refused to obey the orders for search, but instead, she sweepingly fired machine guns. Many officials and soldiers were then killed or wounded. The Chinese Government cannot conceal its great surprise. Aside from reserving the right to claim indemnification for losses, I have the honor, Mr. Minister, to indite this preliminary formal note for your information, and to request that instructions be issued to find out the persons who created the trouble in order that they may be punished according to law. You are also requested to give assurance that American vessels will not cause the occurrence of such incidents, and to favor me with a reply.
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Minister in China in his despatch No. 962, May 2; received June 11.↩