893.00/11545
The Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs (C. T. Wang) to the American Minister in China (Johnson)50
Sir: With reference to the sweeping machine-gun fire directed against officers and soldiers above Ichang by the Yangtze Rapid Steamship [Page 960] Company’s S. S. Iping, I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your formal note of April 18, 1931, wherein it was stated that the officers and soldiers did not warn the vessel to stop, but opened fire on it, thus resulting in a misunderstanding.
This Ministry again telegraphed the Ichang Area Garrison Headquarters to investigate the matter and make a reply. A reply has now been received stating:
“When the S. S. Iping was about to pass through the line of defence at Sanyutung, a point above Nanchingkuan, sentries waved red flags and loudly told the vessel to stop. The River at that place is very narrow, and it was not impossible for those on board to hear the shouts and to see the flags. The S. S. Iping, instead of stopping, opened fire with machine-gun on the shore. Twenty-five officers and soldiers were wounded, four of whom received serious injuries and may not live.”
I have the honor, Mr. Minister, to indite this formal note for your information, and again to request that the persons who started the trouble be appropriately punished, and that measures be taken to prevent the recurrence of such acts in future. It is not known whether the four officers and soldiers who were seriously wounded will live or die. Even if they are fortunate enough to live, it is not certain that they will not be permanently disabled. I therefore have the honor again to reserve the right to claim indemnification for losses, and to request the favor of a reply.
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Minister in China in his despatch No. 1044, June 23; received July 20.↩