893.00/1–2248: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 23—2:09 p. m.]
144. Study of this and other data on current anti-British demonstrations and violence convinces Embassy (re Shanghai’s 93 of January 19, 6 p. m. to Embassy, repeated Department as 127):
- (1)
- That initial impetus to movement came from deliberate attempt on part of Government to distract public attention from internal difficulties by artificial emphasis on a foreign issue, namely Kowloon;
- (2)
- that inflammatory anti-British propaganda in Government dominated press—including editorials, slanted news stories and advertisements by commercial firms, and inflammatory statements official and semi-official persons—caught public imagination through appeal to factor of national prestige involved in Kowloon issue;
- (3)
- that this popular sentiment became widespread and was expedited by right wing Kmt elements desiring embarrass a relatively liberal Political Science Group administration, the exploitation taking form of organizing mass demonstrations and inciting certain gullible elements to disorders and violence;
- (4)
- that Communists took advantage this situation to use disorders as vehicle for circulation both anti-British and anti-American propaganda;
- (5)
- that Government authorities were reluctant take strong measures necessary put down these disorders and prevent their recurrence because this anti-British and anti-American feeling now widespread and implementation repressive measures would lay Government open to charge of failure to resist “imperialist aggression against Chinese sovereignty”;
- (6)
- that despite expressed Government intentions safeguard foreign lives and property, anti-British propaganda continues unabated in Government-dominated press, with consequent implied inclusion of US, since equally effective Communist propaganda classes both as imperialist;
- (7)
- that as Government continues to foster anti-foreign feeling it proportionately reduces own capability of dealing effectively with disturbances certain to arise therefrom in future.
Combination of the above factors arouses grave concern in Embassy that any subsequent such activities might also get out of hand perhaps in an even more widespread and violent form arid that the next time the US might well be the object of the violence.
Embassy therefore suggests for consideration of the Department that Embassy be authorized to bring to the attention of appropriate high Chinese officials the serious view which the American Government takes of these activities and its expectation that the Chinese Government as a sovereign state will assume full responsibility by whatever measures may be necessary to ensure that due and proper protection will be given American persons and property, and finally that the US must reserve the right to hold the Chinese Government fully responsible for any and all failures in this respect.