811.30 Asiatic Fleet/764: Telegram
The Consul at Swatow (Young) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 25—11 a.m.]
27. Reference Department’s telegram No. 3, June 23, 7 p.m. In accordance with the request of the mission authorities eight American sailors were landed on the morning of June 22 on the American Baptist Mission compound due to the total absence of Chinese police protection and because there appeared to be a possibility of danger to American nationals from looters or rioters among the several hundred panicky Chinese who had collected on compound. To date the Japanese authorities are not exercising sufficient police control in the vicinity of the mission compound to insure the safety of the American citizens.
[Page 347]The landing force was today reduced to five men as the result of slightly improved conditions and [as?] withdrawal is considered probable within 2 days.
The presence of the landing force has been known to the Japanese authorities who have expressed no disapproval. The situation has not required action of a military nature by the landing force, its mere presence apparently being sufficient to preserve order.
Repeated to Chungking, Peiping.