893.00/10471: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
441. 1. Following from American Consul at Swatow:
“June 1, 11 a.m. The Commissioner of Public Safety has petitioned to grant him asylum in the Consulate when Swatow is taken by Cantonese. He is a local politician, and if I do not consent he will [Page 464] run away to Hong Kong, immediately leaving the police without a head, which will endanger American lives and property. He would remain at the Consulate for only a few hours until I could arrange for his passage to Hong Kong. In view of the peculiar circumstances I request authority to comply with his wishes.”
2. I am replying as follows:
“June 3, 11 a.m. Your June 1, 11 a.m.
(1) The Legation is of the opinion that a prearranged understanding or promise on your part to grant asylum as suggested might have the indirect effect of assisting one faction against the other in this case, apparently the faction which is opposing the forces cooperating with the recognized Nanking Government.
In any case such a promise would expose the Consulate to the possibility of a chargé of this kind and would constitute a very dangerous precedent.
(2) In further reference to your May 30, noon, and the Legation’s May 31, 3 p.m., paragraph (2), if you consider local situation threatens safety of Americans and property, the Legation will ask the commander in chief for the immediate despatch of a war vessel to Swatow.”
3. Telegrams mentioned in my reply were repeated to the Department in the Legation’s 437, May 31, 5 p.m.
- Telegram in two sections.↩