File No. 893.00/575. The American Ambassador to France to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Paris, October 16, 1911. Your October 14. I could not see Minister for Foreign Affairs personally, but am informed by Chief of Far Eastern Affairs that French Government does not consider present conditions warrant action you suggest. No evidence of danger to foreigners and such action at this time might have a bad effect if premature. BACON. File No. 893.00/579. The American Chargé d'Affaires at St. Petersburg to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, St. Petersburg, October 16, 1911. Your October 14. Neratoff informs me that reports from affected districts are most disquieting. Russia has no missionaries there and few business men, at safe points. He thinks, however, concentration of all foreigners at accessible ports highly desirable. In his opinion situation at present does not call for further measures by the powers. WHEELER. File No. 893.00/577. The American Chargé d'Affaires at Tokyo to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Tokyo, October 16, 1911. Replying to your telegram, October 14, the Japanese Government can not form an opinion as to the advisability of a concentration of American citizens. Regarding protective measures they are consider ing sending three more light-draft gunboats to the Yangtze equipped with wireless to establish rapid communication between Hankow and Shanghai. For this purpose there must be a vessel at least every 100 miles. It is suggested that several light-draft American gunboats equipped with wireless be sent to the Yangtze to cooperate with the Japanese vessels to keep communication open. No further action determined upon for the present, and foreign office informs me none will be taken without previously advising me. Japanese expect severe battle at Hankow within two days; therefore gunboats now there can not be detached for the service elsewhere. Chinese Government have informed the dean of the diplomatic corps that foreign concessions will not be harmed. SCHUYLER. File No. 893.00/580. The American Ambassador to Germany to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, The German Government is disposed to share views expressed in your October 14 as to advisability of concentration in open ports; but if such advice be given, considers it prudent to convey it without public proclamation, which might tend to alarm Chinese Government and excite native population. The German Government does not consider the present situation to call for action by the powers beyond the assembling of war vessels already in Chinese waters. File No. 893.00/581. LEISHMAN. The American Chargé d'Affaires to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Extract.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Peking, October 17, 1911. Your October 14. The rebellion not antiforeign. Rebels as well as loyalists disposed to protect foreigners. Except from Hankow and vicinity there seems to be no need for removal of Americans. Steady movement of troops southward. Russians have ordered troops to suppress Hunghutzus in Manchuria. File No. 893.00/588. WILLIAMS. The American Chargé d'Affaires at Rome to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Your October 14. Foreign Office Monday morning said Italy desires to consult other powers before taking proposed action. Only the views of England received thus far. That country not inclined to take action, thinking matter could be safely left to judgment legations Peking. The Secretary General inclined to agree with this position, but will state position more definitely when views of other powers are known. WILSON. File No. 893.00/590. The American Ambassador to Great Britain to the Secretary of Sixte. No. 882.] [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, London, October 20, 1911. I am informed that Sir J. Jordan states that he has consulted with the United States Chargé d'Affaires, who agrees with Sir J. Jordan that circumstances do not at present call for the concentration of foreign nationals. The British Minister observes that great difficulties attended a similar step at Chungking when the Szechwan troubles broke out, and that the movement now in progress has no antiforeign character. The risk to foreigners in remaining where they are is, he thinks, scarcely such as to justify the expense and inconvenience of moving them in large numbers to Shanghai. Moreover, the Chinese Government would probably be averse from accepting the responsibility of protecting mission property unless the owners were forced to abandon it by stress of circumstances. In view of Sir J. Jordan's opinion Sir Edward Grey deems it unnecessary at the present stage to resort to the step contemplated in your October 14. File No. 893.00/599. REID. The American Chargé d'Affaires at Rome to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, Rome, October 25, 1911. Italian Government is not inclined to take any measures in China at present. File No. 893.00/608. WILSON. The American Ambassador to Russia to the Secretary of State. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN EMBASSY, St. Petersburg, October 26, 1911. Although the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires stated to me last night that the revolution is purely local, confined to northern provinces, with all the south tranquil, Neratoff regards affair in China as very serious, and says the reports to him are that revolution is spreading. He appreciates the good will of the United States, but as no foreign casualties are reported does not deem it expedient to interfere. No Russian vessels have been sent to the scene of disturbance, except one small gunboat. Otto Franke of Hamburg, Oriental expert, declares the outbreak derives from the ancient hatred of one branch of the Mongolian race for another, rather than from any genuine movement for reform or resistance to oppression. File No. 893.00/724. GUILD. The American Chargé d'Affaires to the Secretary of State. No. 352.] [Extract.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Peking, October 26, 11. The Department's telegram of October 14, announcing that the American Government was contemplating advising its nationals in * the disturbed districts to remove to such open ports as could be protected by vessels of war excited some comment here. On the whole the diplomatic representatives here who were consulted by their Governments were not disposed to approve of the suggestion. The Legation expressed its views in its telegram of October 17. Americans are scattered all over the Empire. Many of them can reach the coast only after journeys of a month or more at considerable expense, and where the whole country is in a state of excitement and unrest it seems to the Legation to be best for those in distant places to remain where they are well known rather than to undertake to reach the coast. In view of the fact that both parties to the conflict are anxious to protect foreigners and their interests there is less likelihood of attacks on Americans than in previous troubles. A general movement of foreigners to the seaports would, furthermore, occasion general alarm and not unlikely induce attacks upon their property. The Legation will of course when danger threatens spare no effort to warn those who can be reached and endeavor to remove to Peking, Tsiensin, Shanghai or other ports those who can reach such ports without encountering greater danger than that which menaces them at their homes. I have [etc.] * * E. T. WILLIAMS. File No. 893.00/648. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Peking, November 10, 1911. Arrangements have been made with the Japanese and French to take part in protecting the railway to the sea during the winter provided foreign protection becomes necessary. The British Minister asks whether the American Government wishes to participate. With your consent I will suggest to the admiral sending one battalion of marines to Tientsin. WILLIAMS. The Secretary of State to the American Chargé d'Affaires. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, November 10, 1911. Provided such action becomes necessary, this Government will participate in protection of the railway to the sea, under the protocol of 1901. KNOX. File No. 893.00/826. No. 362.1 SIR: The American Minister to the Secretary of State. * [Extract.] AMERICAN LEGATION, Peking, November 21, 1911. Some weeks ago the Legation advised Americans. in the regions affected by military operations in the provinces of Chihli, Shansi and Honan to send their families to places of safety. Most of them have done so. Similar action was taken by many consuls whose districts were affected by revolutionary risings. The increase of lawlessness and the reports of attacks upon foreigners seem to call for general removal of our citizens so far as possible to ports that are accessible to naval vessels, and on the 18th instant therefore I issued a circular of instruction to the consuls to that effect. I have [etc.] File No. 893.00/699. [Telegram.-Extract.-Paraphrase.] W. J. CALHOUN. AMERICAN LEGATION, Peking, November 25, 1911. It has been finally decided by the diplomatic corps that ministers recommend to their Governments to quietly increase legation guards to maximum under the protocol, which would exercise moral restraint upon natives and substitute cooperation for individual action. CALHOUN. File No. 893.00/703. The Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Japanese Chargé d'Affaires at Washington. [Translation, undated, handed to the Secretary of State on November 27, 1911.] The diplomatic corps at Peking, taking due notice of the latest development of the situation there, has decided, at its meeting of the 23d instant [November], to increase the legation guards there, the extent of such increase to be determined respectively by the various legations on the basis and within the limit of the number of international troops as reduced immediately after the Boxer trouble of 1900-1901. The above decision is only in reference to the guards in Peking. In view however of the fact that in Tientsin Great Britain and France have already some sufficient force, while Russia has lately added 200 men to her force there, Japan has decided to increase on this occasion her force in Tientsin at the same time as in Peking. This is because of Japan's present force in North China being small on account of the withdrawal she made in 1908 of four troops of infantry and one section of cavalry. It is estimated that with the proposed increase the total number of Japanese force in North China will be, including the commander and officers, 1243. Its distribution between Peking and other points is to be determined by conference of Japanese minister in Peking and commander of the guard. The proposed reenforcing force is expected to arrive at its destination about the 2d or 3d of next month. You are hereby instructed to communicate the above to the Government to which you are accredited. |