893.102 Kulangsu/228: Telegram
The Consul at Amoy (MacVitty) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 6—11:35 a.m.]
90. The situation at Kulangsu is quiet and has not changed materially since my 88, July 26, noon. Food supplies are small but seemingly adequate although there is a disposition on the part of the Japanese to halt shipments of Shanghai rice to the Settlement.
The Japanese Consul General replied August 4 to the Municipal Council’s letter of July 11 (see my 75, July 13, 6 p.m.) which may be summarized as follows:
- 1.
- He was gratified that the Council expressed its willingness to suppress anti-Japanese activities.
- 2.
- He denied the statement that the blockade of the Settlement was designed to enforce Japanese demands and stated that it was a part [Page 147] of the general naval blockade of the China coast which was only intensified by the present crisis.
- 3.
- He denied the Council’s assertion that a ratepayers meeting was necessary to authorize a Japanese police inspector.
- 4.
- He expressed dissatisfaction with the adequacy of the present Japanese staff of the Settlement police and demanded the immediate appointment of a Japanese inspector in addition to the three constables already agreed to, lacking which “it would be difficult to avoid possible occurrences of friction”.
- 5.
- He stated that if the Council disregarded the natural participation of Japanese influence in the Settlement it would “dig its grave for itself” and he advised that body to “open its eyes” to the new situation and agree to the reorganization of the administration “to some extent, without which peace and prosperity of Kulangsu could not be expected”.
- 6.
- He suggested that Japanese participation in the administration might bring about the suppression of anti-Japanese activities, which in turn might make the landing forces unnecessary.
It is pointed out that there has been no appreciable change in the Japanese demands, and that the use of thinly veiled discipline continues. The withdrawal of landing forces offered as a quid pro quo for the appointment of a Japanese inspector.
The simultaneous withdrawal of landing forces does not now seem possible to bring about, especially as all British and American officials, both consular and naval, including myself, are agreed that withdrawal should not be contemplated at least until the food and fuel blockade is abandoned. The Municipal Council and foreign residents concur in this view.
Repeated to Chungking, Peiping, Shanghai. Peiping please repeat to Tokyo.