893.00/12–848: Telegram
The Consul General at Tientsin (Smyth) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 9.]
417. Re Deptel 253, December 7. Reuters report which we have just seen in Shanghai paper under Tientsin dateline December 2 is exaggerated. Reuters correspondent here inclined to sensational. Until few days ago, presence of thousands of defeated disorganized troops from Manchuria has been source of annoyance to foreigners and more serious trouble to Chinese. Hungry soldiers, usually singly or in small groups of 2, 4 or 5 men, went along downtown streets entering stores, banks and other establishments, Chinese and foreign, requesting food or money to buy food. [Approximately 15 [Page 635] characters garbled], there were no cases of violence against Americans; one British hotel had trouble with small groups demanding food, and one Indian-owned hotel had food taken away and minor damage caused to restaurant. Chinese, however, with no one to stand up for them have had much more difficult time with hungry troops, and number of lootings and robberies have occurred as reported mytel 397, December 1, Department.
Chinese authorities at outset caught off balance had made no provision to meet problem. Chinese press denounced authorities for permitting this state of affairs. Mayor5 took up matter with Fu Tso-yi who reportedly ordered garrison command take action. Commencing 5 days ago situation greatly improved; several thousand soldiers, mostly southerners, have been shipped south and most of remainder housed in godowns including some British and other foreign pending shipments south; most important they are being fed. No American property occupied by defeated troops.
Only American property taken under martial law are: [Deteriorating] castle occupied by so far well-behaved troops; one empty Assemblies of God Mission House, American representative having evacuated; and one American-owned dwelling with Chinese tenant.
At present authorities seem to have problem of defeated troops under control. However, there is considerable apprehension among Chinese and foreign residents here that, should Government authority collapse, disorganized soldiery and other unruly groups will cause very serious disturbances.
Sent Department 417; repeated Nanking 662, Shanghai 612, Peiping and Tsingtao.
- Lt. Gen. Tu Chieh-shih.↩