Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1938, The Far East, Volume IV

393.115 Standard Vacuum Oil Company/41: Telegram

The First Secretary of Embassy in China (Salisbury) to the Secretary of State

Peiping, July 31, 1938—noon.
[Received July 31—7 a.m.]

478. Tientsin’s despatch 632, June 23,⁴² protection of American cargo.

1. Tientsin’s Consulate General has received letter from Standard Vacuum Oil Company stating a supply of gasoline scheduled to arrive about August 20 at Taku Bar on S. S. Ahamo, that it will be impossible to transport the gasoline to Tientsin unless a guard of American marines is stationed on the (British) Taku Tug and Lighter Company’s tug towing the gasoline lighter because the latter company is unwilling to operate vessels under present conditions without armed foreign guards, that the British are not prepared to furnish guards for this British company’s vessel carrying American gasoline, allegedly because of the danger, that two trips to Tientsin will be necessary to transport the gasoline, and that an early decision is requested so that, if no guard is to be furnished, the ship may be diverted to Shanghai.

2. Colonel Marston⁴³ states that he has no objection to furnishing four to eight men as guard, provided the Department does not object, and expresses the opinion that guards should be furnished if possible.

3. Please instruct.

Sent to Ambassador, Hankow.

Salisbury

42. Not printed.
43. Col. John Marston, U. S. M. C., commandant of American Embassy Guard at Peiping.