893.51/4989: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:04 p.m.]
579. 1. Following is text of urgent telegram from Commissioner of Customs at Hankow to Inspector General of Customs at Peking:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Following is text of telegram sent November 23rd by senior consul, Hankow, to Senior Minister:
“Union of lower-grade Customs employees formed November 21st at a meeting at which superintendent was present and said he looked to union to assist in China’s recovering control of Customs. Commissioner of Customs regards the pronouncement as very serious and fears presentation of impossible demands followed by picketing, leading to complete cessation of business. He desires to know in this event what support he may look for from the Powers and whether they would go so far as to take forcible steps to ensure free access to customhouse, which is outside Concession. Speedy reply desirable.”
3. These telegrams were considered November 25th at a meeting of the interested Ministers, with the Inspector General present, who explained that those forming union, in spite of recent considerable [Page 965] increase in pay and in defiance of standing orders of Customs service, number approximately 130 out of some 350 Chinese employees at Hankow. He considers it is likely that in spite of such recent utterances against the Customs by Chiang Kai-shek as were reported in Associated Press interview, referred to in my telegram number 575, November 23, 5 p.m.,45 this movement has not approval and will not be supported by higher Cantonese authorities in view of their thus far having refrained from taking similar action against customs in Canton. He expects that strike will be brought on by presentation of impossible demands immediately following monthly pay day.
4. As a result of meeting, Senior Minister telegraphed as follows to the senior consul, Hankow:
“Customs will try to maintain service even in case of strike. Inspector General hopes that strike alone without picketing will not succeed.
As entrance of customhouse abuts on British concession can concession police keep this entrance free?
If not, police authorities should consult with those of the other concessions for united action.
As to the greater question of protecting customhouse by naval landing parties, the Ministers concerned are asking for home instructions.”
5. Protection of customhouse involves two aspects: First, keeping open access to it from the British Concession, which is primarily function of the concession authorities but which might prove impossible without assistance and, second, eventual necessity of protecting in the customhouse itself 30-odd foreigners and such Chinese employees as might remain faithful. If, as I assume, we continue to strongly urge regular functioning of the Customs as an indispensable condition to the carrying on of normal commercial relations with China, I consider that this attempt of destructive elements to paralyze its workings should be averted by the landing, if necessary, of naval forces sufficient to forestall acts of violence by the strikers against those seeking to do business with the Customs and against loyal members of staff. French Minister intimated at the meeting willingness to participate in such measures. British Chargé d’Affaires has privately said to me he is inclined to believe his Government would be glad to participate but would almost surely be unwilling even for so important a purpose as the preservation of the Customs system to assume risks and responsibilities not shared by the other powers principally interested.
6. I beg to request instructions with a view to authorization of our cooperation on even terms with other principally interested powers [Page 966] in landing party, in the event that such action should become necessary for the purpose indicated.
- Not printed.↩