Office of the Historian

File No. 893.00/544.

The American Chargé d’Affaires to the Secretary of State.

[Extract.]
No. 298]
American Legation,
Peking, July 25, 1911.

Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copy of a memorandum of the 21st instant from the British Legation regarding an international plan of defense for the foreign settlements at certain Yangtze river ports in the event of disturbances involving danger to the lives of foreigners [etc.]

As conditions on the Yangtze river have been unsettled for some time and are likely to remain so indefinitely during the period of transition from an autocratic to a democratic representative form of government, and as the American communities in the riverine ports are small and totally unable to take steps adequately to protect themselves in the event of uprisings endangering foreign life and property, I believe it would be prudent to instruct our consuls in those ports to collaborate with their British colleagues with a view to effecting an arrangement for concerted action in defending these settlements. As the American residents in any of these foreign settlements would undoubtedly benefit from any international plan of defense that might be devised, it is obvious that they should bear their full share of responsibility for its maintenance.

In consideration of this question it occurred to me that the views of the admiral commanding the American Asiatic fleet would be valuable to the Department in deciding as to what course of action to pursue, and I have accordingly transmitted to Admiral Murdock a copy of the enclosed memorandum, asking him to transmit to the Navy Department an expression of his views thereon. The distribution of foreign men-of-war on the Yangtze cannot but be a most important factor in any international concerted plan of defense of these settlements.

In referring this question to the Department, I have the honor therefore to recommend favorable action on the inclosed memorandum, and would be pleased if you would inform the Legation of your views and instruct it concerning any course of action deemed necessary or advisable to take.

I have [etc.]

Percival Heintzleman.
[Inclosure.—Memorandum.]

The British Legation to the American Legation.

A revised scheme has been under consideration for the defense of the international settlements at the Yangtze ports of Chinkiang, Hankow, Nanking, Wuhu, Kiukiang, and at Amoy, in the event of disturbances involving danger to the lives of foreigners. The suggestion emanated from the British naval authorities, who considered that a concerted plan was necessary in order to [Page 162] enable them to render effective assistance if called upon in an emergency. His Majesty’s Government however consider that any such plans would be greatly enhanced if the American authorities were disposed to lend their cooperation in carrying them out. The reports received from His Majesty’s consular officers indicate that to a large extent their colleagues at the ports named are already cognizant of the proposed schemes and have signified in principle their approval of them. His Britannic Majesty’s Legation has the honour, under instructions from His Majesty’s Government, to inquire whether the American Legation would be disposed to instruct its consular officers to discuss further the details of the schemes at the several ports with their British colleagues with a view to completing arrangements for an international plan of action.

Peking, July 21, 1911.