893.00/11985: Telegram
The Consul at Amoy (Franklin) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 25—10 a.m.]
Following sent to Legation.
Referring to my telegram of May 21, 3 p.m., the Chinese authorities inform me that General Fang Sheng-t’ao, chairman of the Fukien Provincial Government is now arranging counterattack on Communists, with headquarters at Tungan, approximately 15 miles north of Amoy.
It is reported from Admiral K. K. Lin’s office that the 19th Route Army at Shanghai is coming to Province of Fukien end of May to suppress Communists and P’ingho and Siokhe west southwest of Amoy recaptured from Communists by local volunteers. Persistent rumors current of possible split among ranks of Communists.
The British Consul, in a memorandum dated May 23 to the Consular Corps, states that he “is not at present authorized to request his senior naval officer to land forces with a view to putting plan B into operation”. Plan B provides for landing of armed forces at consulates and patrolling of certain defined districts in the Settlement. Thus, cooperative plan for landing armed forces to discourage impending attack and creating a feeling of security is not in operation and no armed forces have been landed to date.
Repeated to the Department.