893.00/13552: Telegram The Consul General at Hankow (Josselyn) to the Secretary of State HANKOW, June 16, 1936-3 p. m. [Received 3:35 p. m.] My June 14, noon." Following telegram sent from U.S.S. Monocacy at Changsha to Yangtze Patrol Commander received today: "Changsha quiet. Obtained reliable information that conference between Nanking and Southwestern representatives now taking place at Hengchow. Result of this conference will determine possible hostilities or amicable relations held with American businessmen who have representatives in and south of Hengchow. The consensus of their opinion is that at present there is no cause for alarm. Strong rumor is current Changsha that the price for withdrawal of Southern forces now being discussed. British Consul and senior naval officer are not in accord with above opinions. British Consul has withdrawn all nationals south of Changsha to Changsha and has strongly urged that Americans now south of Changsha be withdrawn. He feels that in the event of hostilities anti-foreign feeling will develop and it may then be impossible to withdraw nationals. No large number troops present Changsha, estimates of Central Government troops south of Changsha vary between 5 and 15 divisions. Central Government troops reported to be entrenching just south of Hengchow. Will issue detailed evacuation plan to all American nationals present Changsha. This plan based on cooperating with British naval forces present, no instructions issued to American nationals other than those in Changsha pending definite decision from American Consul General, Hankow". I have today despatched following telegram to American Presbyterian Mission stations at Chenchow, Hengyang and Siangtan and to Evangelical Mission at Siangtan "Future developments uncertain, exercise caution and withdraw if conditions make it advisable telegraph". Admiral Allen informed. Repeated to Peiping, Nanking. JOSSELYN 893.00/13554: Telegram The Consul General at Hankow (Josselyn) to the Secretary of State HANKOW, June 17, 1936-11 a. m. [Received 11:45 a. m.] My June 16, 3 p. m. Replies have been received to my telegrams to Presbyterian Mission stations at Chenchow, Hengyang and Siangtan. These all state that the situation is quiet and indicate that the mission "Not printed. aries are not withdrawing for the present. Evangelical missionaries have left Siangtan. Chenchow states Kwangtung troops retired south night of June 15. Hengyang reports numbers of Central Government troops are increasing and that nearest opponents are 40 miles away. Siangtan reports conditions there normal. Commander U.S.S. Monocacy at Changsha reports June 16, no change in the general situation; that rumor is current of imminent failure of conference at Hengyang; that Hunan Provincial troops are reported withdrawing from western Hunan with orders to occupy position south of Changsha; that fairly reliable estimates place number of Central Government troops now in Hunan at six divisions with more en route. Americans arriving from Changsha state Governor Ho Chien has remained loyal to Nanking notwithstanding representations from Southwest delegates who went to Changsha last week. Repeated to Department, Peiping, Nanking, Canton. 393.11/1843 JOSSELYN The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State No. 523 PEIPING, June 17, 1936. [Received July 13.] Subject: United States naval protection for American citizens at Foochow. SIR: I have the honor to refer to the Embassy's despatch No. 467 of May 20, 1936, relative to the above-mentioned subject, and to enclose for the information of the Department a copy of despatch No. 451 of June 8, 1936, from the Consul at Foochow.78 Mr. Burke reports therein that the complete defense plan for Foochow includes an evacuation and concentration plan worked out by the Consulate with American nationals resident at Foochow, known as the "Consulate Concentration and Evacuation Plan". He states that this plan is separate and distinct from the plans worked out by the naval authorities and includes a scheme for transport by water from Nantai Island, the main concentration point, to Pagoda Anchorage. Mr. Burke adds that the plan is on record with the naval authorities. Respectfully yours, 121.5493/150: Telegram NELSON TRUSLER JOHNSON The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew) WASHINGTON, June 26, 1936-2 p. m. 84. Department yesterday released to the press portions of text of a telegram received from Peiping " reporting presentation by Ameri 78 Not printed. 79 "Department of State, Press Releases, June 27, 1936, p. 653. can Embassy there to Japanese Embassy of three memoranda testifying to certain acts of Japanese military personnel in Peiping.80 Certain American newspapers published this morning stories sensational as to text and headlines indicating that Embassy had delivered "protests" and that Department was considering more emphatic follow-up. Department has informed Japanese Ambassador here of the simple and complete facts regarding all that has thus far been done on this case. There is no warrant for and no good purpose to be served by sensationalizing of the case. You may make any use that you see fit of this information. PHILLIPS 121.5493/152: Telegram The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew) WASHINGTON, July 1, 1936-5 p. m. 86. Department's 84, June 26, 2 p. m. On the basis of a telegram of June 30 from the Embassy at Peiping 81 the Department on June 30 released to the press a statement as follows: "The Department has received from the American Embassy at Peiping a telegram reporting that the Japanese Embassy there has given the American Embassy a memorandum making satisfactory reply to the memoranda which the American Embassy gave the Japanese Embassy on June 25 in regard to incidents which occurred in Peiping on June 21 and June 23 involving Japanese military personnel and American citizens and premises." Department is asking Peiping to forward you by mail the text of its telegram of June 30. PHILLIPS 893.00/13590: Telegram The Consul General at Canton (Spiker) to the Secretary of State CANTON, July 4, 1936-6 p. m. [Received July 4-6 p. m.] Referring to my telegram July 3, 5 p. m.,82 American resident in Wuchow, Kwangsi, in June 30 letter reports that official families from 80 The acts consisted of rough treatment by Japanese military of American citizens in Peiping: an American officer in civilian clothes was pushed in the stomach with a bayonet by a Japanese sentry, an American woman was threatened with a saber for refusing to leave the sidewalk, and American property was violated by Japanese troops. Embassy's telegram, No. 330, June 30, 4 p. m., stated that the Japanese "expression of regret" conveyed to the American Embassy would not be given to the press by the Japanese Embassy as "it would hurt the feelings of the Japanese Military." 82 Not printed. Nanning, Liuchow and elsewhere in Province are pouring through Wuchow en route to Hong Kong; that Nanking bombers have been making daily flights over Nanning, Liuchow and Kweihsien from where most of the populace have fled; that there is underlying fear in event of defeat Pai 83 "will turn Red"; that Kwangsi currency reached new low on June 3 when it suddenly dropped to four to Hong Kong dollar; and that Kwangsi Bank remained closed. Wuchang, however, remained quiet. Missionaries express serious fears that popular indignation over soaring food prices and forcible enlistment for unpopular civil war may precipitate uprisings and conversion of Province to Communism. Such information is of interest in the light of a missionary's previously expressed conviction that Red influence in Kwangsi is much stronger than is generally believed, as evidenced by increasing percentage of Moscow trained aviators and technical personnel, radical literature and other signs, and also of various fragmentary information suggesting the 19th Route Army elements associated with Kwangsi have been working for alliance with Reds as in 1933 Fukien rebellion. Sent to Peiping, Nanking, Shanghai, Hankow. SPIKER 893.00/13596: Telegram The Consul General at Canton (Spiker) to the Secretary of State CANTON, July 6, 1936-4 p. m. [Received July 6-2:50 p. m.] Further reports from Kwangsi indicate increasingly serious situation there with marked bandit activity in southwestern corner of province. Latest advices indicate all Americans except two evacuated from Nanning and all Americans from Kweilin area where authorities have ordered evacuation of women and children of the populace and are fortifying the city. Government rationing foodstuffs in Wuchow and elsewhere in Province and have fixed food prices with the result that farmers are not bringing foodstuffs into cities and towns. Most foreigners in Kwangsi now concentrated in Wuchow which remains quiet. Have advised Americans still remaining in interior of Kwangsi to evacuate to place of safety. Have also requested Commander of the South China Patrol to send U.S.S. Mindanao to Wuchow where one British gunboat now stationed. He is referring the matter to Commander-in-Chief of Asiatic Fleet. If Mindanao proceeds to Wuchow, U.S.S. Tulsa will come here from Hong Kong, 2. Sent the Department, Peiping, Nanking, Shanghai and Hankow. SPIKER $3 General Pai Chung-hsi, Kwangsi military leader. 893.00/13645: Telegram The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State PEIPING, August 1, 1936-11 a. m. [Received August 1-8: 35 a. m.] 386. The following telegram has been received from the Consulate General at Canton. "July 31, 6 p. m. Nanking troops have been arriving at Canton to reenforce Kwangtung units in drive up West River against Kwangsi rebels. Reliable information from Wuchow confirms that Kwangsi military expects such an attack and indicates that while preparing for a provisional defense at Wuchow they are withdrawing principal base up river. U. S. S. Mindanao left Canton this morning for Wuchow." Sent to Nanking. JOHNSON 893.00/13655: Telegram The Consul General at Canton (Linnell) to the Secretary of State CANTON, August 6, 1936-5 p. m. [Received 11:30 p. m.] Advice received from Commander South China Patrol now at Wuchow, Kwangsi, that all American women have left Wuchow for Hong Kong. Americans in Kwangsi now consist of nine men at Wuchow, including five Catholic priests, and the Catholic priests in the interior. The latter refuse to leave their posts at present but could get to Wuchow in 10 to 20 hours in case of necessity. 2. Information from reliable sources indicate that the Central Government, having won over Tsai Ting Kai, Teng Shih Tseng and other Nineteenth Route Army leaders, is employing them to overcome Kwangsi intransigeance through pressure of Li Chi Shen, whose influence in Kwangsi councils is apparently considerable through his potential value as a rallying point for Nineteenth Route Army personnel and other anti-Nanking-Kwangtung elements. Interesting instances are today's press reports that Li Chi Shen has secretly left Nanning and that Li Tsung Jen and Pai are preparing to capitulate. Sent to the Department, Peiping, Nanking, Shanghai and Hankow. LINNELL 84 Also known as Marshal Li Chai-sum. |