793.94/11635: Telegram

The Consul at Tsingtao (Sokobin) to the Secretary of State

1.
With reference to the Department’s telegram of December 11, 1 p.m., I called on the Mayor this morning. I opened the discussion with reference to an article by the Mayor which appeared in a local Chinese newspaper on December 10th, dealing with the control of the retrocession [city?] of Tsingtau and its defense. I remarked the spirited nature of the article in which there appears the statement “under no circumstances would a drastic [apparent omission] be made of Tsingtau to anybody.” I emphasized that as he doubtless knew there have been many rumors and reports of the proposed destruction of foreign property, and I desired to be reassured that due protection would be given to such property. I used the term foreign property throughout the discussion. I referred to calls with a similar purpose made by my British and French colleagues.
2.
The Mayor replied emphatically “there is no question at all as to the protection of foreign lives and property.” He then added “so far as the Chinese are concerned.” He assured me that shall there be any hostilities every precaution would be taken by the Chinese to avoid danger to American lives and property and he went so far as to state that where American property was contiguous to Japanese property, both would be spared in order to avoid danger to or destruction of American property. This statement would imply that the possible destruction of Japanese property is contemplated under certain circumstances.
3.
The Mayor while reiterating his intention to avoid any danger to foreign lives and property, stated that naturally if the Japanese attacked Tsingtau, in view of their indiscriminate destruction of property in the Yangtze Valley, it might be assumed that foreign property [Page 806] in Tsingtau would likely be subject to destruction from Japanese shelling and bombardment.
4.
His whole tone was the understanding, so far as the situation could be controlled by the Chinese, there would be no danger to foreign property and certainly he gave the impression that he would [apparent omission] take one which would threaten any property in Tsingtau so long as Japanese take no steps to force the issue in this region.

Sent to the Department, Hankow, Peiping, Shanghai.

Sokobin