893.00/11895: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham)
155. For the Minister. Your April 25, 11 a.m., in regard to Amoy.
- 1.
- Department approves your recommendation and that of the Commander-in-Chief in regard to the plan outlined in paragraph 3 of your telegram under reference. However, keep the Department fully informed, as the situation at Amoy develops, in regard to any different views which may be held by the representatives of the other most interested powers. Inform Amoy.
- 2.
- As of possible applicability in the present situation at Amoy,
Department invites your attention to paragraph 4 of its instruction
No. 272, August 15, 1930, 11 a.m.,47 in regard to situation at Hankow, in
which the then Commander-in-Chief concurred in principle (Legation’s
738, August 22, 10 p.m.48), as follows:
“In the present situation, the Department feels warranted in suggesting that measures planned for protection of American lives and property need not be restricted to steps necessary for evacuation of American citizens; that cooperation in the work of policing, in case foreign forces undertake that work, would be justified; and that participation in measures intended to protect American and other foreign lives and property at Hankow from predatory and irresponsible armed forces, in the event of an attack, might be warranted.”
The geographical situation at Amoy particularly lends itself to the logic of such a procedure. Political considerations may weigh contra.
Please discuss this with the Commander-in-Chief.