893.102 Kulangsu/207: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in China (Johnson)
137. Tokyo’s 339, July 18, 7 p.m., Department’s 24, July 14, 4 p.m., to Amoy, and Shanghai’s July 14, 5 p.m., to Chungking. The Department believes that, if arrangements could be made for the withdrawal of the American and other landing parties at Kulangsu, an important step would have been accomplished toward ameliorating the present unsatisfactory situation there. The two telegrams under reference indicate that this may be an opportune time for the American Council at Amoy to propose to his British, French and Japanese colleagues that the various naval landing parties withdraw simultaneously with a view to removing one of the factors which appear to operate psychologically against the reaching of an adjustment of the points at issue between the Japanese and the Municipal Council. Accordingly, unless you perceive objection, please instruct MacVitty (1) to consult with his British and French colleagues and with the senior American naval officer present, and (2) if he and they are in agreement, to approach the Japanese Consul General orally and propose, as a step taken on his own initiative for the benefit of all the [Page 139] parties concerned and not at the instance of his consular colleagues, that the foreign naval landing parties withdraw to their ships as a move toward the restoration of conditions which would lay the ground for better mutual understanding in connection with discussions looking to a reasonable solution of the present difficulties. It is suggested that, if the Japanese Consul General is receptive to the proposal and obtains favorable consideration of it by the Japanese naval commander, it might be expedient for the American and Japanese consular representatives to undertake the working out of arrangements for the withdrawal, the Japanese representative in consultation with his naval authority and MacVitty in consultation with the American naval officer and the British and French Consuls.
MacVitty should be instructed to submit, meantime, comment on the Department’s suggestions in its telegram No. 24 to Amoy and to report whether, on the basis of those suggestions or on his own initiative, he has made any progress in seeking a reasonable adjustment of the situation.
Sent to Chungking. Repeated to Peiping and Shanghai. Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo.