253. Telegram From the Ambassador in the Republic of China (Rankin) to the Department of State 1
Unnumbered. I returned from short trip to Hong Kong 5:30 this afternoon and after talking with Pilcher and Ingersoll on telephone from airport I went direct to Foreign Minister. I told him I must protest with strongest possible emphasis at day’s events, particularly slowness of police in taking action. I said this was no time for weakness and Chinese could expect none from us. I demanded full compensation and adequate apologies.2 I then asked Foreign Minister to accompany me to USIS and Embassy. Large crowds still at 7:30 p.m. gathered both places and by no means fully under control despite presence of numerous police. Foreign Minister’s car in which we were riding was stoned as we approached Embassy. We got out and were greeted by applause from crowd being held back by police line, also by some stones some of which struck Foreign Minister. Minister and I walked through Embassy grounds. Chancery completely gutted and contents thrown in yard. Police would not allow us remain since crowd threatening. So no opportunity to inspect code room and safes but all presumably intact except bar lock cabinets. Foreign Minister informs me police arrested over thirty persons coming out of Embassy and fifteen at USIS. Minister told me five battalions of troops arriving [Page 527] in Taipei momentarily and martial law declared effective 9 o’clock tonight. (Chinese military informed Ingersoll “State of Emergency” effective 8 p.m.) No known loss American life but eight members Embassy staff slightly injured and Alexander C. Boase of USIS hospitalized but not in danger. Few injuries other Americans but apparently none serious and no casualties reported among Chinese staff of Embassy. Handful of police who came to Embassy were most helpful in getting Americans out to safety but failed exert themselves in restraining crowd. Various, if fragmentary, indications that riots were organized in advance to exploit emotional reaction inevitably following Reynolds case.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 121.93/5–2457. Niact. Repeated for information to CNO, CINCPAC, and CINCPACFLT.↩
- On May 25, in a note delivered to the Embassy in response to Rankin’s protest, the Foreign Minister stated that his government accepted full responsibility for the losses sustained by the official American community in Taipei. He added: “On behalf of my government, I wish to express again my profound sense of regret for the incident for which I am under instructions to tender my government’s sincere apologies”. (Telegram 1173 from Taipei, May 26; ibid., 121.93/5–2657)↩