893.00/11606
The American Consul General at Hankow (Lockhart) to the Chinese Chairman of the Hunan Provincial Government (General Ho Chien)56
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the motor vessel Chi Ta, of the Yangtsze Rapid Steamship Company (American), en route from Hankow to Ichang, was fired on at Chenglinki on June 3, 1931, at 1.40 A.M. Several rifle shots were fired at the vessel before it came to anchor and four shots were fired while the vessel was anchoring. Later, a Chinese customs official boarded the vessel and informed the master that martial law was in effect at that point and that vessels were not allowed to pass Chenglinki between sunset and sunrise.
Neither this Consulate General nor the steamship company had been previously notified of the enforcement of martial law at that point. This oversight on the part of the Chinese authorities might well have resulted in serious consequences. A similar failure of the Chinese authorities to inform American authorities of the establishment of a search barrier a few miles above Ichang recently resulted in an unfortunate incident in which several Chinese soldiers were wounded by members of the American armed guard on board an American steamer, the soldiers having fired on the steamer and the armed guard, believing them to be communist-bandits, returned the fire. I therefore beg to request that you instruct the Chinese authorities concerned promptly to notify this office, by telegraph if necessary, of the establishment of search barriers or prohibited sailing hours at points along the Yangtse and Siang rivers in Hunan Province, so that American shipping companies may be duly informed and be in a position to have the masters of their vessels comply with such reasonable regulations as may be instituted.
The courtesy of an early reply, indicating the action taken by you, will be appreciated.
Accept [etc.]
- Copy transmitted to the Minister in China by the Consul General in his despatch L. No. 1232, June 16; transmitted to the Department without covering despatch; received September 29.↩