393.1111 Holleman, C.H./6: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
437. My 426, May 28, noon.
1. [Following from] American Consul at Swatow:
“May 30, noon. Tulsa left here last night for Amoy under orders commander in chief. Swatow is being held by Kwangsi adherents with 150 soldiers in Swatow and 1,000 Chaochowfu. Commander an ex-bandit. Armed robberies occur daily in Swatow but the victims [will?] not report to the police authorities, on account of fear of reprisals. Putnam71 has requested me to convey messages to Chang Chen concerning Holleman. To do so I must close the Consulate temporarily and travel through the lines of the contending factions. The trip would require about two days. Request instructions and suggest that Tulsa return immediately to Swatow.”
I am replying as follows:
“May 31, 3 p.m. Your May 30, noon. In view of your May 28, 4 p.m., and of other reports indicating the probability of an early attack on Swatow, the Legation deems it inadvisable that at this juncture you close the Consulate and endeavor to get into personal contact with Chang Chen by trip through the fighting lines. You should however make every effort to reach Chang by special messenger or by other means. The Legation authorizes reasonable expenditure for this purpose. Please keep the Legation fully informed. Should it prove impossible to dispose of message to Chang Chen concerning Holleman, or should there be any marked change in the situation, the Legation may reconsider proposal for your personal visit to Chang.
- (2)
- Is your request for return of the Tulsa based on the local situation?
- (3)
- Your telegram and this reply are being repeated to the commander in chief.”
2. Department’s authorization is requested for expenditure referred to.
3. Above telegrams are being repeated to commander in chief.