893.0146/599
The Secretary of State to Senator Ernest Lundeen
My Dear Senator Lundeen: I acknowledge the receipt of your letter of December 13, 1937,59 in which you ask for information in [Page 421] regard to the number of troops, naval vessels and military supplies in the Far East.
When the present hostilities between China and Japan broke out last July the United States had armed forces at three points in China: at Peiping (528 U. S. Marines); at Tientsin (786 U. S. Army); and at Shanghai (1073 U. S. Marines). The American Government maintains the small detachments at Peiping and at Tientsin—and other interested governments maintain similar detachments—pursuant to the provisions of the so-called Boxer Protocol of 190160 which was concluded between China and the representatives of the interested governments, including the American Minister to China. The purpose of maintaining these troops is to provide protection to American nationals (including the Embassy personnel) and, in case of emergency calling for evacuation, making available an armed escort. At Shanghai, the Government of the United States has since 1927—as have various other governments—maintained in the International Settlement at that port a small detachment of armed forces for the purpose of assisting in protecting the large number of American citizens residing in that area from the dangers incident to serious disorders possibly beyond the control of the local authorities.
Also, when the present hostilities began between China and Japan, the United States had on duty in Chinese waters ten gunboats. Recently, one of these gunboats, the U. S. S. Panay, has been sunk, leaving a total of nine gunboats, with a total personnel of 69 officers and 896 men, on definitive duty in Chinese waters. These vessels form a part of the United States Asiatic Fleet based on Manila, and the distribution and movements of the vessels of this fleet are under the control of the Commander-in-Chief of that fleet. Normally, except in times of trouble in which American lives and property are endangered, the vessels of this fleet, with the exception of the gunboats—which are normally stationed at various Chinese ports—usually spend the summer months at certain Chinese ports in north China and the winter months in the Philippine Islands. Some of the vessels make courtesy visits from time to time to other countries in the Far East.
The United States along with other similarly interested countries has maintained gunboats in Chinese waters since the 1850’s primarily for the purpose of protecting American citizens. The authority for stationing naval vessels in Chinese waters is found in the Sino-American Treaty of 185861 and in provisions of somewhat similar treaties between China and other foreign powers which provisions inure to the benefit of the United States through most-favored-nation treatment.
[Page 422]American armed forces in China are there for the protection of American nationals, primarily against mobs or other uncontrollable elements. They have no mission of aggression. It has been the desire and the intention of the American Government to remove these forces when performance of their function of protection is no longer called for, and such remains its desire and expectation. Developments in China during the years immediately preceding the outbreak of the present hostilities between China and Japan afforded the Government of the United States reasonable expectation that the armed forces of this country might soon be withdrawn from China in an orderly way and to the advantage of this and other countries. The normal trend of events, however, was interrupted when fighting broke out and spread to various parts of China. There then rapidly developed a situation presenting serious hazard to the lives of American citizens in China. In the face of these increased dangers the Government of the United States did what it has always done, not only in the Far East but elsewhere, namely, it took all practicable measures to afford appropriate protection to American nationals. It advised American nationals to withdraw. It sent a regiment of Marines from San Diego to Shanghai. It ordered various vessels of the United States Asiatic Fleet, whose base is at Manila but which had been spending the summer months at the ports of Chefoo and Tsingtao, to remain in Chinese waters.
The present number of American armed forces in China is as follows:
| At Peiping (U. S. Marines) | 528 |
| At Tientsin (U. S. Army) | 785 |
| At Shanghai (U. S. Marines) | 2600 |
| Total | 3913 |
Of this number approximately 1500 represent reenforcements sent to Shanghai as a result of and in order to cope with emergency problems occasioned by the present situation in the way of protecting American nationals. Two weeks ago, on December 10, the Navy Department orally informed press correspondents, in reply to inquiries, that the U. S. S. Chaumont, a naval transport, is going back to Shanghai in the course of its regular schedule; that the transport is due back at Shanghai about the end of January, and that at that time the Commander-in-Chief of the United States Asiatic Fleet will decide whether the situation then existing is such as to permit the withdrawal from Shanghai of the reenforcements which were sent there four months ago.
The present number of United States naval vessels in oriental waters is shown on the enclosed copy of a statement furnished me by the [Page 423] Navy Department62 containing information in regard to the position of ships on Asiatic station as of December 20. This includes the whole of our Asiatic Fleet. I am informed that the total personnel on all these ships comprises 4,884 naval officers and men and 167 Marines. Of the 43 vessels listed on the attached sheet only 14 are in Chinese waters and, as I have above stated, only 9, consisting of gunboats, are on duty exclusively in Chinese waters. The largest of the vessels of the United States Asiatic Fleet, the U. S. S. Augusta, a heavy cruiser, flagship of the Commander-in-Chief, was a short time ago about to proceed to Manila. The expected departure of this vessel has been delayed by the recent bombing of the U. S. S. Panay and American merchant vessels in the Yangtze River.
It is my understanding that the American military and naval forces in the Far East have sufficient supplies to maintain themselves for a comparatively short period, but, if you desire more detailed information in regard to military and naval supplies and equipment in the Far East, it is suggested that you address an inquiry on this subject to the Secretaries of War and the Navy.
I note with interest that you are in accord with the warning given to American citizens to leave the areas affected by the present Chinese-Japanese conflict. This Government and its officers in China have repeatedly and earnestly advised American citizens, in face of dangers incident to situations of danger, to withdraw, and in the present situation we are making every effort to provide safe means whereby they may depart. Furthermore, the Department of State is not for the present issuing passports valid for travel to and in China save in certain exceptional circumstances.
Sincerely yours,
- Not printed.↩
- Signed at Peking, September 7, 1901, Foreign Relations, 1901, Appendix (Affairs in China), p. 312.↩
- Signed at Tientsin, June 18, 1858, Hunter Miller (ed.), Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States of America, vol. 7, p. 793.↩
- Not printed.↩