Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1933, The Far East, Volume III

893.00/12548: Telegram

The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Acting Secretary of State

Peiping, November 29, 1933—noon.
[Received November 29—7:30 a.m.]

882. Legation’s 879, November 28, noon.⁶⁷ Following from Counselor of Legation, Nanking:

“November 27, 7 a.m. For the Minister. Following note dated November 25 has been repeated [received?] from the Foreign Office:

‘I have the honor to inform you that in regard to the present rebellion in Fukien Province, the Chinese Government has now decided to adopt necessary and suitable measures to deal with the situation. I have the honor to request that you cable instructions to be issued to American nationals and vessels not to supply the rebel faction with munitions of any kind or other articles of any sort which may serve to prolong its disorderly acts of violence, nor to give it any other form of assistance. The Chinese Navy will, when it considers it necessary, search merchant vessels of all nationalities passing the coast of Fukien, in order to prevent assistance from reaching the rebels and to expedite the suppression of the rebellion.

I have the honor to indite this note for your information and I shall deeply appreciate the friendly action if you will take positive steps as indicated.’

Sent to the Legation and Canton for the Minister; not repeated elsewhere.”

2. Following telegram has been sent to the Minister at Canton:

“November 27, 6 p.m. For the Minister. Nanking’s telegram of November 27, 11 a.m. concerning search of vessels passing the coast of Fukien. No action is being taken by the Legation pending expression of your views.”

3. Following reply [from the] Minister:

“November 28, 4 p.m. Your November 24, 6 p.m., and November 27, 6 p.m. It does not appear to me necessary to issue any instructions in regard to this matter at this time. Standing instructions should be sufficient to enable Chinese Government and naval authorities to handle situation until question arises requiring more specific instruction.

Please repeat all information concerning matter to the Department as it becomes available with request for instructions. It is assumed that you have already repeated to the Department Nanking’s November 27, 11 a.m. to Legation and Canton. Johnson.”

4. The British Legation informs me that it will be guided by the policy approved by its Government in connection with the Tientsin customs of 1930⁶⁸ for the [apparent omission] that the British Government could not permit search of British ships on the high seas but that they were prepared to concert arrangements for inspection of ships in Chinese territorial waters by unarmed Chinese vessels acting in conjunction with the Maritime Customs under the supervision of one of His Majesty’s ships.

5. As directed by the Minister in his telegram quoted above the Legation respectfully requests the Department’s instructions.

For the Minister:

Gauss

67. Not printed.
68. For correspondence concerning the Tientsin customs difficulties, see Foreign Relations, 1930, vol. ii, pp. 223–274.