893.00/12630: Telegram
The Minister in China ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 10—8:50 a.m.]
26. Reference Legation’s 20, January 8, 2 p.m.49 Following from Counselor Peck:50
“January 9, 1 p.m. Your December 31, 3 p.m. An official of the Foreign Office has just called to inform the Legation in connection with its representations regarding bombing operations in Fukien that General Chiang51 has requested that the Foreign Office inform the Legations interested in affairs at Amoy and Foochow that military operations are reaching a critical stage during which there is a possibility that Amoy and Foochow may be bombed. In view of this possibility, General Chiang asks that instructions be telegraphed to American Consuls at those ports to advise American oil companies to place over tanks and buildings containing petroleum stocks pieces of white cloth at least 10 feet square bearing the Chinese characters “Mei Yu” or simply “Yu” meaning kerosene or oil. I promised to transmit this message immediately to the Legation and [Page 463] again reminded informant of the presence of large numbers of American citizens at Kulangsu and Nantai as well as elsewhere in Amoy and Foochow. Repeated to Foochow and Amoy by land wire.”
To insure its receipt by Consul at Foochow the Legation repeated message by Navy Radio through American warship at Pagoda Anchorage advising American naval vessel at Amoy.