893.512/871: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 8—9:20 a.m.]
817. The Legation’s 202 [802], October 30, 9 p.m. [a.m.]
- 1.
- Following from consul general at Canton:
“November 5, 5 p.m. Standard Oil Company lighters still being held without prospect of release. I am today asking Consul General Cunningham to endeavor to get in touch with Li Chai-sum through Chu Chao-hsin in Nanking and urge that orders be issued to release lighters. In the meantime I beg the Legation and the Department to instruct me to present strong note of protest to the Canton Government demanding release of lighters without further delay and pointing out that they are not subject to local jurisdiction.”
“November 6, 11 a.m. Referring to my telegram of November 5, 5 p.m., concerning Standard Oil Company lighters, I fear that the Department does not realize the seriousness of this case. Although the lighters have now been detained nearly a month, neither the consulate general nor the Standard Oil Company has been informed officially regarding alleged stamp tax irregularities, nor have I received any reply to my official and unofficial communications to the Government on the subject. Moreover, aside from General Huang Shao-hung of Kwantung, I have not been received by any really responsible official of the local government. In this connection we should recall arbitrary seizure at Kong Moon two years ago of Texas Company’s oil, for which no compensation has ever been made.”
- 2.
- Following instruction has been sent to Jenkins:
“November 7, 8 p.m. Your November 5, 5 p.m., and November 6, 11 a.m. (1) You are authorized to make a strong protest, carefully bearing in mind however the Department’s instructions as regards the use of force. (2) Your messages under reply have been repeated to Department as well as Legation’s instruction as above.”