893.00/4952
The Minister in China (
Schurman
) to the Secretary of State
Peking
,
March 20,
1923
.
[Received April 17.]
No. 1422
Sir: I have the honor to report that during a
visit which Rear-Admiral W. W. Phelps, commanding the Yangtze Patrol
Force of [Page 742] the United States
Asiatic Fleet, paid to Peking in November last he laid before me certain
views with regard to the tranquilization of the situation on the Upper
Yangtze River in Szechuan, which situation, as the Department is aware,
has given rise to much anxiety within the past two years. As a result of
these conversations, Admiral Phelps requested Rear-Admiral Kobayashi, of
the Imperial Japanese Navy, the Senior Force Commander of the Yangtze,
to call a conference of the force commanders (representing The United
States, Great Britain, France and Japan) to consider the question. This
conference was held in Shanghai last month, as a result of which my
British, French and Japanese colleagues and I each received a
communication from the four senior naval officers transmitting a copy of
a communication which they proposed to forward through their respective
legations at Peking and the consular officers in Szechuan to the Chinese
authorities and all commanders of district troops who have or may have
in the future any connection with strife in the Province of
Szechuan.
At a conference of my British, French and Japanese colleagues and myself
the substance of the senior naval officers’ communication was approved,
but it was decided to alter its form to that of a memorandum which was
to be transmitted by the respective Consuls to the appropriate Chinese
civil and military authorities in Szechuan.
This course was adopted as it was felt that while the views of the senior
naval officers should be communicated to the local authorities the
communication should reach the latter from the consular officers of the
Powers as being more in consonance with usage and with the duties and
dignity of the consular officers, rather than from the naval officers
direct.
The form of joint communication from the four Consuls at Chungking to the
local authorities was also decided upon, as well as a form of identic
despatch to the four Consuls at Chungking instructing them in the
premises.
It was also decided to address a note to the Waichiao Pu transmitting a
copy of the naval officers’ memorandum and requesting that the Chinese
Government, who must be held ultimately responsible for conditions on
the Yangtze, should pay most serious attention to this communication and
should take the necessary steps to accomplish the object in view,
namely, the cessation of attacks on and interference with foreign
shipping by Chinese soldiers on the Upper Yangtze.
I have received a despatch No. 57, dated February 27, 1923, from the
American Vice-Consul in Chargé at Chungking, copies of which I
understand he has forwarded direct to the Department of State,62 in which he expresses
quite groundless fears that the prerogatives [Page 743] and dignity of the Consular Body would be ignored in
the communication to be addressed to the authorities of Szechuan. My
communication of March 19th to Mr. Spiker, which forms Enclosure No.
463 to this
despatch, will, I am confident, remove his anxiety on this score.
I have [etc.]
[Enclosure]
The Representatives in China
of Japan, the United States, France, and Great
Britain to the Chinese Acting
Minister for Foreign Affairs
The Undersigned Representatives of Japan, The United States of
America, France and Great Britain have the honor to call the most
serious attention of the Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs to the
outrages repeatedly committed during recent years against the
vessels of their respective mercantile marines on the Upper Yangtze
by the military forces of contending factions in Szechuan. It will
be within the knowledge of His Excellency that these vessels,
peacefully plying on the waters of the Upper River between Ichang
and Chungking in accordance with their Treaty rights, have again and
again, in spite of reiterated protests, been fired on from the shore
to the danger of foreign life and property and in violation of the
friendly relations existing between China and the Powers
concerned.
Although the Chinese Government is responsible for the safety of
shipping upon the Chinese rivers, the duty of protecting the
shipping of their nationals against these piratical attacks by bands
of irresponsible soldiery falls upon the naval forces of Japan, The
United States, France and Great Britain stationed on the Upper River
for that purpose, and the Undersigned have the honor to transmit
herewith copy of a memorandum on this subject, drawn up by the
Senior Officers commanding these forces, which the Consuls of the
Powers concerned at Chungking have been instructed by the
Undersigned to present to the civil and military authorities in
Szechuan. It is requested that the Chinese Government, who must be
held ultimately responsible, will pay most serious attention to this
communication and will take the necessary steps to accomplish the
object in view, namely, the cessation of these attacks on, and
interference with, foreign shipping by Chinese soldiers on the Upper
Yangtze.
-
Y. Obata
-
Jacob Gould Schurman
-
A. de Fleuriau
-
Ronald Macleay
Peking
,
March 19,
1923
.
[Page 744]
[Subenclosure]
Memorandum by the Senior Officers in Command of
the Naval Forces Respectively of Japan, Great Britain, the
United States and France Operating on the Yangtze
River
During the last two years our Mercantile Vessels, legally flying our
respective flags and legally trading on the Upper Yangtze River,
have been repeatedly attacked and fired on from the shore, thereby
endangering the lives of our nationals.
Further, these vessels have been boarded and searched by bands of
soldiers in spite of the respectful protests of the Masters
thereof.
This constitutes an outrage against our respective flags and a
violation of the amenities due from one great Power to another.
Against these attacks and indignities our respective Consuls have
repeatedly protested without result.
Wherefore viewing the future with great concern we, the undersigned,
the present Senior Officers commanding respectively the Naval Forces
of Japan, Great Britain, The United States and France operating on
the Yangtze River, have mutually decided that the Treaty rights of
our Nationals must be maintained in accordance with the usages of
International Law and the common courtesies of friendly Powers.
We therefore request with the friendliest of feelings that such
orders be issued as will render the recurrence of such episodes
impossible in the future.
The Senior Naval Officers in Command of the Naval Forces of the
friendly Powers operating on the Yangtze River.
Kenzo Kobayashi
Rear-Admiral, I.J.N.
P. Maclachlan
Rear-Admiral, R.N.
W. W. Phelps
Rear-Admiral, U.S.N.
E. Steva
Capitaine de Frigate, M.F.
Done at Shanghai
this nineteenth day
of February, 1923.
