793.94/14377: Telegram
The Consul General at Tientsin (Caldwell) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 21—1:55 p.m.]
217. My October 17, 4 p.m., and political report for October transmitted with my despatch 677.46 Within a week an American and a German have been fired at in the Race Club grounds during daylight by unseen assailants whose motive remains obscure, and [Page 542] there has been frequent firing at night in the area outside the Concessions and adjacent to the Race Club. Most of the foreigners resident in this area are British and German but there are two American families there and, of course, many Americans use the Race Club. The Race Club has now hired and posted its own armed guards.
Repeated representations have been made by the consular representatives, including myself, to the Chinese police who have promised but have not given adequate protection; British and German Consuls General have made informal representations to the Japanese and the matter was discussed at a consular body meeting at which time the Japanese consular representatives promised to look into the situation, but conditions have not improved. It appears that no effective measures will be taken by the Chinese police unless in cooperation with or under the orders of the Japanese, and the British Consul General is now sending a communication to the Japanese Consul General stating that prior to the present hostilities order was preserved in this area by armed Chinese police; that as the Japanese do not allow arms to an adequate force of Chinese police he will hold the Japanese responsible for the safety of British nationals, and calling upon the Japanese to ensure adequate protection. I understand that this course has already been followed by the British with regard to the Kailan Mining Administration property at and near Tongshan.
The French and German Consuls General are prepared to send similar communications to the Japanese Consul General, but before sending a communication of the same nature on behalf of American nationals I wish to be informed whether either the Embassy or the Department perceives any objection as a matter of principle to my doing so.
The obvious alternatives to asking the Japanese to ensure protection are the withdrawal of the two American families from that area or the posting of marine guards on their property in case the situation should seem to warrant either course. Neither of these courses would be more than a temporary emergency measure and would not materially affect the safety of Americans using the Race Club.
Sent to Peiping.
- Neither printed.↩