893.00/11895: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received April 25—5 a.m.]
Your 152, April 23, midnight.
1. Commander in Chief and I have considered situation at Amoy in the light of information available to us in telegrams repeated by Franklin and communicated by naval forces there.
2. U. S. S. Canopus with four submarines and U. S. S. Tulsa are at Amoy. We feel that this is sufficient force to ensure safe evacuation of Americans from Kulangsu should that prove necessary. Telegrams from naval forces do not indicate that additional force is necessary nor that grave emergency is imminent.
3. Commander in Chief has received under date of April 24th a telegram from Commander of U.S.S. Tulsa stating among other things that Admiral Lin is making an effort to collect forces for the protection of Amoy. He adds:
“I have agreed with British and Japanese senior naval officers that in the event of lives of foreigners being endangered, upon request of American Consul after he had been advised by municipal authorities of their inability to afford protection, to land sufficient forces to protect evacuation of American and foreign residents resting in northeastern section of the International Settlement of Kulangsu in the vicinity of American Consulate: and British and Japanese senior officers have agreed to evacuate Americans and foreigners in other sections of the International Settlement. I have made no agreement [Page 501] with regard to protection of property and cooperative plan agreed upon only covers evacuation of foreigners.”
Plan thus described appears to us to be in line with the policy of the American Government in such contingencies and our recommendation is that this plan be followed.
4. My British colleague is in Nanking and I shall consult him as soon as he returns. British Admiral informs us that he does not consider situation at Amoy alarming.