CHINA CIVIL WAR IN NORTHERN CHINA AND THE RESTORATION OF LI YUAN-HUNG TO THE PRESIDENCY-Continued Date and number 1922 Subject Page May 15 (218) From the Minister in China (tel.) 704 Danger of looting by disarmed troops, making it necessary for gates of Peking to remain closed; withdrawal of marines from Tientsin by Admiral Strauss, without approval of Minister. May 18 (126) To the Minister in China (tel.) 705 Information that protocol powers' only right in 2-mile railway zone is that of jurisdiction over crimes affecting railway or telegraph or persons and property of soldiers. proval of Minister's adherence to strict neutrality. Ap May 20 (225) From the Minister in China (tel.) 706 Chaotic situation in Canton owing to differences in policy of Sun and Chen; characteristics of each; willingness of Sun to negotiate with Wu. May 24 (231) From the Minister in China (tel.) 707 Identic telegrams of U. S., British, French, and Japanese Ministers to their Governments (text printed) recommending that they be authorized to urge China to reduce military forces and to offer China financial assistance. From the Minister in China (tel.) May 25 (232) 708 Departure of Legation Guard reinforcements. Threatening attitude of Chang in North and Chen in South. May 26 (227) From the Ambassador in Japan 708 Statement by Foreign Minister, May 16 (text printed) reaffirming Japan's neutral policy in Manchuria, having no reason to change attitude because of recent announcement regarding independence. May 26 From the Consul at Harbin (tel.) 709 Report of mutiny among Chinese soldiers along Chinese May 27 From the Consul at Harbin (tel.) 709 Spread of revolt of Chinese soldiers against Chang throughout railway zone. May 27 (50) To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) 710 Japanese Chargé's assertion that no support has been or will May 30 From the Consul at Harbin (tel.) May 31 (90) Apparent gaining of control by Wu's adherents in North Manchuria; Chinese insistence that Japanese are aiding mutineers. From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Foreign Office statement that Japanese troops will speedily be withdrawn from Hankow, action being based on policy of respecting integrity and sovereignty of China and in keeping with resolutions of Washington Conference. 710 710 CHINA CIVIL WAR IN NORTHERN CHINA AND THE RESTORATION OF LI YUAN-HUNG TO THE PRESIDENCY-Continued Instructions that requests for aid for protection of American interests should be made only to Chinese authorities, and that offer of protection from foreign troops should be accepted only in greatest extremity. Page 710 (Instructions to repeat to Peking.) May 31 From the Consul at Harbin (tel.) 711 Assurances from Wu that order will be maintained in Harbin and railway zone, troops being sent against mutineers. 711 711 June 2 (243) June 3 (244) June 3 (245) June 5 (246) June 6 (141) June 7 (250) From the Minister in China (tel.) From the Minister in China (tel.) General public approval of Li Yuan-hung's return to Presidency and of reconvocation of old Parliament; Sun's successes in South; continuance of military preparations in North by both factions. From the Minister in China (tel.) Correspondence between Minister and consul at Mukden (texts printed) in which is conveyed Chang's request for mediation in factional fight with Chihli, and Minister's refusal, in accord with U. S. policy of nonintervention. From the Minister in China (tel.) Li Yuan-hung's announcement that he will resume Presidency if Wu and Tsao Kun will consent to disbandment of troops and abolition everywhere of post of Military Gov ernor. To the Minister in China (tel.) Approval of Minister's action regarding nonintervention. Decision of Japan that time is inopportune for carrying out From the Minister in China (tel.) Arrival in Peking of Li Yuan-hung. June 11 (256) June 11 (257) From the Minister in China (tel.) Interview given press (text printed) denying reports in Japanese papers that Ministers of Great Britain, Japan, France, and United States had recommended to their Governments the giving of support to Wu in order to assist him to organize a stable government in China. 713 714 714 714 715 715 June 12 (259) June 13 (260) From the Minister in China (tel.) 715 Li Yuan-hung's assumption of duties of President, temporarily; and W. W. Yen, those of Acting Premier. 716 From the Minister in China (tel.) Inauguration of President and appointment of acting members of Cabinet. Opinion that question of recognition does not arise since change is not in form but in administration of Government. CHINA CIVIL WAR IN NORTHERN CHINA AND THE RESTORATION OF LI YUAN-HUNG TO THE PRESIDENCY-Continued Date and number 1922 Subject Page June 15 To the Minister in China (tel.) 717 (147) Instructions to avoid, if possible, raising question of recognition. June 15 (262) From the Minister in China (tel.) 717 June 16 (148) June 17 (267) June 17 (150) June 20 (273) Official notification, June 14 (text printed) of Hsü's resignation and assumption of office of President by Li Yuanhung. Comment by Ministers, universal sentiment favoring recognition. Suggested procedure of merely acknowledging notice and attending Li's reception. Sun's demands. To the Minister in China (tel.) Approval of procedure merely to acknowledge receipt of notice and to attend Li's reception. From the Minister in China (tel.) Armistice between Wu and Chang; seizure of Canton by Chen and escape of Sun; indication of understanding between Wu and Chen. Dinner given by Minister in honor of delegates to Washington Conference, Koo and Wang expressing gratitude to Americans for sympathy and cooperation. To the Minister in China (tel.) Opinion of American group that there is slight prospect of loan to China until a stable government is established which would give confidence to investors. 718 718 719 From the Minister in China (tel.) 720 Unanimous acceptance by diplomatic body of U. S. form of reply to notification of new President's accession. Agreement reached between Wu and Chang. 720 June 21 (276) June 23 (153) June 28 (286) June 29 (763) From the Minister in China (tel.) Retirement of Chang's troops outside wall accomplished by June 20th. To the Minister in China (tel.) Public address of Japanese Chargé delivered at Baltimore in which he referred to Japanese withdrawal of troops from Hankow and stated that his Government hopes all foreign troops will be withdrawn when order is restored. Inquiry of matter has been taken up in Peking. (Instructions to repeat to Tokyo for information.) From the Minister in China (tel.) Report that Japanese Minister mentioned withdrawal of Legation circular of June 26 (text printed) communicating to 720 721 722 Seizure of Canton by Chen's troops; declaration against constitutional government and in favor of old Parliament. Sun's escape to Whampoa on gunboat. June 19 (271) June 22 June 25 (285) From the Minister in China (tel.) Bombardment of bund by Sun; U. S. buildings hit; consul's protest to Sun. Message to Admiral suggesting protection of U. S. property. From the Vice Consul in Charge at Canton (tel.) Election of Chen as Provisional Governor of Kwangtung, Suggestion from Canton that consular good offices be offered 723 723 724 June 26 (156) To the Minister in China (tel.) 725 Disapproval of consul's participation in any plan of me diation. Aug. 9 From the Consul in Charge at Canton (tel.) 725 Defeat of Sun's forces in north Kwangtung; his departure for Hongkong and Shanghai. EFFORTS BY THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PREVENT MORE EFFECTIVELY THE EXPORTATION OF ARMS TO CHINA 1922 Jan. 30 (192) Mar. 4 (1621) Mar. 4 (23) From the Ambassador in Italy Italian note verbale, January 24 (text printed) explaining that arms shipments recently released to China were subject to contracts made prior to April 1919, concerning which contracts Italy had formulated reservations to agreement of 1919, and that Chihli government had given assurances material would not be used in internal wars. Proclamation Declaring unlawful the exportation of arms or munitions of war to China. To the Ambassador in Italy (tel.) 725 726 727 Instructions to request Government to abandon reservations to arms declaration of May 5, 1919. Apr. 13 (56) From the Ambassador in Italy (tel.) 728 Italy's assurance that no sales of Italian arms or ammunition shall take place in China. Apr. 15 (50) To the Ambassador in Italy (tel.) 728 Inquiry whether Italian statement means that deliveries will not be made under contracts made either before or after declaration of May 5, 1919. CHINA EFFORTS BY THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PREVENT MORE EFFECTIVELY THE EXPORTATION OF ARMS TO CHINA-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1922 Apr. 18 (60) From the Ambassador in Italy (tel.) 728 Affirmation by Foreign Office that no more deliveries will be made under contracts made either before or after declaration of May 5, 1919. May 19 To the Secretary of the Treasury 728 June 2 (157) June 3 (80) June 16 (464) June 24 June 26 (102) June 29 (160) Opinion that no shipments of airplanes or their equipment should be allowed to leave U. S. ports for China, except upon permits issued by Department of State. To the Ambassador in Great Britain (tel.) Expression of gratification at British acceptance of U. S. proposal regarding naval construction in China. Information concerning Italy's abandonment of reservation concerning declaration of May 5, 1919. U. S. desire for approval of amended resolution on Chinese arms embargo (text printed) submitted to Washington Conference but withdrawn because of Italian and Japanese reservations. To the Ambassador in Italy (tel.) Proposal, in view of withdrawal of reservations by Italy and Japan, that amended resolution on arms embargo to China be circularized among powers participating in conference for reaffirmation as substitute for declaration of May 5, 1919. From the British Ambassador Importance of reaffirmation of embargo of 1919 and widening terms to include materials for manufacture of arms and munitions of war; suggestion that subject be referred to diplomatic representatives in Peking for discussion and recommendations. To the Secretary of the Treasury Information that permits are necessary for shipments of 729 730 731 732 733 No objections on part of Italy to circularizing the powers, as proposed in Department's telegram no. 80, June 3. To the Minister in China (tel.) 733 Instructions to inform colleagues that U. S. representatives at London, Paris, Tokyo, Rome, Brussels, The Hague, and Lisbon have been instructed to request formal approval of amended resolution on Chinese arms embargo. Instructions to request of Government to which accredited (Instructions to repeat to Paris, Brussels, The Hague, and Instructions to request formal adoption of amended reso lution. 734 734 |