893.102 Kulangsu/178: Telegram
The Consul at Amoy (MacVitty) to the Secretary of State
Amoy, June 20, 1939—5
p.m.
[Received June 20, 12:25 p.m.]
[Received June 20, 12:25 p.m.]
56. With reference to Tokyo’s 280, June 19, 11 a.m., to the Department.
- 1.
- The British Embassy statement regarding the information from the British Consul General here covered the situation between May 25 and June 14 when supplies from the mainland were blocked, but were being received from Amoy. My telegram No. 52 June 15, 6 p.m. referred to the stoppage of food from Amoy. So far there has been no interference with shipments from Shanghai and Swatow although quantities received from these points are totally inadequate.
- 2.
- It is my belief that the blockade between Amoy and Kulangsu is being maintained by the puppet government at the instigation of naval officers of the Asia Development office at Amoy, as junks coming into the Settlement waters are stopped en route and even at the jetty of the International Settlement by patrol boats off Kulangsu and taken to Amoy.
- 3.
- The Consular Body sent today a joint protest to the Japanese Consul General against the action of the Japanese authorities in diverting to Amoy supplies intended for Kulangsu and putting pressure on the Municipal Council by preventing adequate food and fuel from reaching its destination.
Sent to Embassy at Peiping for transmission to Tokyo, also the Embassy [at] Chungking and Consulate General at Shanghai.
MacVitty