893.00/11891: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham)
Washington, April 23, 1932—12
p.m.
152. For the Minister.
- 1.
- Under date April 23, 8 p.m., Franklin telegraphs from Amoy44 that Amoy and Kulangsu may be threatened in near future by invading Chinese troops, believed to be so-called communists, who have recently captured nearby cities; that the Municipal Council of the International Settlement at Kulangsu on April 22 requested consular body to arrange with foreign naval authorities for assistance in case of need in (a) protecting Kulangsu and (b) evacuating foreigners; that plan for evacuation has been drawn up in cooperation with foreign [Page 500] naval authorities; that consular body has requested Chinese Admiral, in event of emergency, to protect waters adjacent to Ku-langsu; and that foreign naval authorities state that they could evacuate foreigners on request from their respective consuls. Franklin “requests instruction regarding the question of defending International Settlement in the event of necessity for evacuation of foreigners and the British Consul is requesting similar instructions from his Government.” Franklin adds that above information has been communicated to the Commander in Chief45 by American naval vessel at Amoy.
- 2.
- Please telegraph Department your recommendations and those of the Commander in Chief, and indicate, if practicable, the views of the representatives of other interested powers.
Castle