793.94/11769: Telegram
The Consul at Tsingtao (Sokobin) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 22—7:05 p.m.]
Some looters were shot this afternoon. There has been a change in the police administration and heavily armed Marines are now guarding the streets. Some of the looting appears to have the sanction of the police. Chinese banks closed. Otherwise everything is very quiet and there has not been the slightest disorder in the section where Americans live.
2. At a meeting of the foreign Consuls in Tsingtao on Sunday, December 19, it was agreed to ask the senior naval officer present (British) to send the following message to the senior Japanese naval officer operating in this area:
“Edgewater mansions and approaches to the Huichuan Point will in case of emergency be the center of the foreign concentration area. Will you agree to respect this area as a foreign neutral zone?”
3. The above quoted message has not been seen [sent?] yet but it will be delivered by a foreign man-of-war when Japanese men-of-war are approaching Tsingtao.
Sent to the Department, Embassies, Shanghai.