-HIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OP HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT) S E C R E T -
G.T?.(k9)
COPY NO. S i
93
25TH APRIL, 19k9
CABINET SITUATION IN CHINA Memorandum by the Foreign Secretary and the First Lord of the Admiralty H.M.S. AMETHYST We circulate for the consideration of the Cabinet the text of the statement which it is proposed should be made to Parliament on the AMETHYST incident (Annex A ) . 2.
Also attached (Annex B) are some details of the incident,
not intended to be included in the statement to Parliament,
though certain points may have to be brought out in answer to
questions which may be raised there.
SHANGHAI 3.
The rapid advance of the Communist armies and the political
situation aroused by the AMETHYST incident also raise certain
questions of urgency in connection with ouj? policy in Shanghai.
Three telegrams which have been received from H. M. Ambassador,
Nanking, the Consul General, Shanghai and the Flag Officer,
2nd in command, Far East, are attached at Annexes C, D and E
respectively.
Z+.
In view of the urgency, the issues raised in these telegrams were considered at a meeting of the Chiefs of Staff this morning and in the afternoon at a meeting between the Foreign Secretary, the Minister of Defence and the First Lord of the Admiralty.
As a result, the Prime Minister approved a telegram in reply (Annex F ) , which has been sent by the Admiralty to the Flag Officer.
A similar telegram has been sent by the Foreign Office to the Consul General. -5.
The Prime Minister also approved the text of the
Admiralty statement (Annex G) which has been issued in London
and communicated by the Foreign Office to Nanking and Shanghai.
E. B. H. Cabinet Office, S.W. 1 .
25TH APRIL, 191+9.
112 ANNEX A DRAFT STATEMENT 1.
The House will wish to have a full account of the circumstances in which His Majesty's Ships were fired, upon in the Yangtze river with grievous casualties and damage. 2.
I will first explain what.our position is with regard to the civil war in China.
It has been repeatedly stated in this House that our policy has been governed by the Moscow Declaration of December 19U5 in which the United Kingdom, the United States and the Soviet Union declared a policy of non-intervention in China s internal affairs. - In view of the considerable- British interests in China and of the presence of large British communities, His Majesty's Government decided some months ago that His Majesty's Ambassador and His Majesty's Consular Officers in China should remain at their posts and this was announced to the House by my Rt. Hon. Friend in December.
In the disturbed conditions which have prevailed in recent months, warships were stationed at Shanghai and Nanking in the event that a breakdown of law and order as the result of hostilities should require the^m to assist in the evacuation of British subjects. r
3.
I should make it clear that the stationing of these ships and their movements from one port to another in China were undertaken with the full knowledge and consent of the National Government of China.
I want to make the point therefore that when the incident took place to which I am about to-refer H.M. S. "Amethyst" was proceeding on her lawful occasions and that there was no other properly constituted authority to whom His Majesty's Government were under an obligation to notify her movements even had they been in a position to do so. h.
Early on Tuesday, 1 9 t h April the frigate U. M.S. "Amethyst"
(Lieutenant-Commander Skinner) sailed from Shanghai for Nanking.
The objects of her passage were to relieve H. M. S. "Consort" at
Narking, to provide communications for His Majesty's Ambassador,
to bring supplies for the British community and to be prepared
to carry out their evacuation if need arose.
A warship has in
fact been maintained at Nanking for a considerable time and
passages have been fairly frequent.
5.
The opposing Chinese forces have been massed along the
. banks of the Yangtse for a considerable time and there have been
repeated rumours during recent weeks that the Communists were
about to cross the river.
The passage of the "Amethyst" was
accordingly adjusted to meet the military situation.
Arrangements were made at the time to avoid the expiration of
a Communist ultimatum to the.effect that in circumstances
they would cross on 1 2 t h April.
Nevertheless, the necessity
for relieving H.M.S. "Consort" as early as possible remained;
she was -running short of supplies after a long stay at Nanking
and a frigate was considered, more suitable for this task than
a destroyer.
The second Communist ultimatum was due to expire
on 2 1 s t April.
The Flag Officer therefore decided, with the
agreement of His Majesty's Ambassador, that the passage should
be timed to allow the "Amethyst" to reach Nanking a clear
2k hours before the expiry of this ultimatum.
"Amethyst"
should therefore have reached Nanking on 2 0 t h April.
For the
same reason the "Consort" was due to leave before "Amethyst's"
113
arrival.
An i n t e l l i g e n c e r e p o r t was r e c e i v e d on t h e 19th
w h i c h c o n f i r m e d 2 1 s t A p r i l as t h e d a t e f o r the Communist
c r o s s i n g ; hy t h e t i m e "Amethyst" r e c e i v e d t h i s s h e was
Already half-way up.the river.
In t h e l i g h t of t h e s e
f a c t s t h e d e c i s i o n f o r "Amethyst" t o s a i l was made and t h i s
d e c i s i o n was i n my o p i n i o n c o r r e c t . .
6.
What c o u l d n o t h a v e b e e n f o r e s e e n b e f o r e t h e i n c i d e n t s
v/as t h e r e p e a t e d and d e l i b e r a t e a t t a c k s by m a s s e d a r t i l l e r y
on t h e f o u r w a r s h i p s , and on t h e S u n d e r l a n d P l y i n g B o a t ,
w h o s e n e u t r a l c h a r a c t e r and p e a c e f u l i n t e n t i o n s w e r e a l l
f u l l y known t o t h e Communist f o r c e s .
For e x a m p l e , b o t h '
"London" and "Black Swan" were p r o m i n e n t l y d i s p l a y i n g w h i t e
flags.
P e r h a p s t h e h i g h l i g h t of h u m a n i t y was t h e m a c h i n e ­
g u n n i n g of t h e men b e i n g d i s e m b a r k e d from t h e "Amethyst"
u n d e r t h e w h i t e f l a g , many o f them s e r i o u s l y wounded, o r
w h i l e s t i l l swimming i n t h e w a t e r .
The same p o l i c y a p p e a r s
t o b e r e f l e c t e d i n t h e r e f u s a l o f t h e Communist a u t h o r i t i e s
i n P e k i n g even t o r e c e i v e a l e t t e r from His M a j e s t y ' s Consul
a s k i n g them t o o r d e r t h e i r f o r c e s t o s t o p f i r i n g and a l l o w
our s h i p s t o g i v e m e d i c a l r e l i e f and e v a c u a t e t h e wounded.
7.
To t u r n t o t h e n a r r a t i v e of e v e n t s when "Amechyst" had
r e a c h e d a p o i n t on t h e Y a n g t s e R i v e r some 60 m i l e s from
N a n k i n g , a t a b o u t n i n e o * c l o c k i n t h e morning on t h e 2 0 t h ,
C h i n e s e t i m e , s h e came u n d e r h e a v y f i r e from b a t t e r i e s on
t h e N o r t h bank, s u f f e r e d c o n s i d e r a b l e damage and c a s u a l t i e s
and e v e n t u a l l y g r o u n d e d on Rose I s l a n d .
After t h i s , the
C a p t a i n d e c i d e d t o l a n d about s i x t y of h e r c r e w , i n c l u d i n g he-r
wounded, who g o t a s h o r e by swimming or i n sampans, b e i n g
s h e l l e d and m a c h i n e g u n n e d as t h e y d i d s o ; we know t h a t a
l a r g e p r o p o r t i o n have, with Chinese h e l p , a r r i v e d at Shanghai.
8.
V i c e A d m i r a l Madden, t h e F l a g O f f i c e r 2n3 i / c Far E a s t e r n
S t a t i o n o r d e r e d t h e d e s t r o y e r H.M.S. " C o n s o r t " (Commander
R o b e r t s o n ) from N a n k i n g t o g o t o " A m e t h y s t ' s " a s s i s t a n c e ,
and t h e f r i g a t e H.M.S. " B l a c k Swan" ( C a p t a i n J a y ) from
S h a n g h a i t o Kiang Y i n , I4O m i l e s down r i v e r from t h e "Amethyst".
9.
" C o n s o r t " r e a c h e d "Amethyst" a t a b o u t t h r e e i n t h e
a f t e r n o o n and. was i m m e d i a t e l y h e a v i l y e n g a g e d .
She f o u n d t h e
f i r e t o o h o t t o a p p r o a c h "Amethyst" and t h e r e f o r e p a s s e d h e r
a t s p e e d down r i v e r .
She t u r n e d two m i l e s b e l o w and a g a i n
c l o s e d "Amethyst" t o t a k e h e r i n t o w .
But s h e a g a i n came
u n d e r s u c h h e a v y f i r e t h a t s h e was o b l i g e d t o abandon t h e
a t t e m p t , although she answered the shore b a t t e r i e s w i t h her
f u l l armament and s i g n a l l e d t h a t s h e h a d s i l e n c e d most of t h e
opposition.
H a l f an h o u r l a t e r h e r s i g n a l s c e a s e d , t h o u g h
i n f a c t s h e was making a s e c o n d a t t e m p t t o t a k e "Amethyst"
i n t o w , h a v i n g turned, d o w n - s t r e a m a g a i n .
This attempt a l s o
f a i l e d and s h e s u s t a i n e d f u r t h e r damage and c a s u a l t i e s d u r i n g
w h i c h h e r s t e e r i n g was a f f e c t e d .
. She t h e r e f o r e had t o
c o n t i n u e downstream o u t o f t h e f i r i n g a r e a .
10.
M e a n w h i l e , t h e C r u i s e r H.M.S. "London" ( C a p t a i n C a z a l e t ) ,
v / e a r i n g t h e f l a g o f F l a g o f f i c e r 2nd i / c , was a l s o p r o c e e d i n g
up t h e Y a n g t s e a t b e s t s p e e d .
11.
The t h r e e s h i p s "London", " B l a c k Swan" and " C o n s o r t "
met a t Kiang Y i n a t a b o u t e i g h t t h a t e v e n i n g .
I t was f o u n d
t h a t " C o n s o r t " was e x t e n s i v e l y damaged; s h e was o r d e r e d t o
p r o c e e d t o S h a n g h a i t o l a n d h e r dead and. wounded and e f f e c t
repairs.
114 12.
At a b o u t two o ' c l o c k i n t h e morning o f t h e 2 1 s t t h e
"Amethyst" s u c c e e d e d i n r e f l o a t i n g h e r s e l f by h e r own e f f o r t s
She c o u l d g o no
and a n c h o r e d two m i l e s a b o v e R o s e I s l a n d .
f u r t h e r a s h e r c h a r t was d e s t r o y e d .
Her h u l l was h o l e d i n
s e v e r a l p l a c e s - h e r C a p t a i n s e v e r e l y wounded, h e r F i r s t L i e u t e n a n t
wounded, and h e r D o c t o r k i l l e d .
T h e r e were o n l y f o u r unwounded
o f f i c e r s l e f t , and one t e l e g r a p h i s t t o c a r r y o u t a l l ' w i r e l e s s
communications.
13.
L a t e r t h e same morning t h e "London" and t h e " B l a c k Swan"
e n d e a v o u r e d t o c l o s e t h e " A m e t h y s t " , but met w i t h h e a v y f i r e
c a u s i n g some - c a s u a l t i e s .
The f i r e was o f c o u r s e r e t u r n e d , b u t
t h e F l a g O f f i c e r t h e n d e c i d e d t h a t i t would n o t be p o s s i b l e
t o b r i n g t h e damaged "Amethyst" down r i v e r w i t h o u t f u r t h e r
s e r i o u s l o s s of l i f e i n a l l s h i p s ; he t h e r e f o r e ordered the
"London" and "Black Swan" t o r e t u r n t o Kian Y i n .
11)..
At K i a n g Y i n t h e y were f i r e d upon by b a t t e r i e s , and
s u f f e r e d c o n s i d e r a b l e c a s u a l t i e s and damage.
Both s h i p s
a f t e r w a r d s p r o c e e d e d t o S h a n g h a i t o l a n d t h e i r d e a d and
wounded and t o e f f e c t r e p a i r s .
15.
That a f t e r n o o n a N a v a l and a R.A. F. D o c t o r , w i t h
m e d i c a l s u p p l i e s and c h a r t s , w e r e f l o w n by a S u n d e r l a n d
Both the '
a i r c r a f t o f t h e R o y a l A i r F o r c e t o t h e "Amethyst".
a i r c r a f t and t h e "Amethyst" w e r e f i r e d upon.
The s h i p w a s h i t ,
b u t t h e S u n d e r l a n d managed t o t r a n s f e r t h e R. A . F . D o c t o r and
some m e d i c a l s u p p l i e s b e f o r e b e i n g f o r c e d t o t a k e o f f .
The
"Amethyst" t h e n t o o k s h e l t e r i n a c r e e k .
16.
D u r i n g t h e n i g h t of t h e 2 1 s t - 2 2 n d "Amethyst" s u c c e e d e d
i n e v a c u a t i n g a f u r t h e r b a t c h of h e r wounded t o a n e a r b y t o w n .
A f t e r d o i n g s o , s h e moved 10 m i l e s up r i v e r u n d e r c o v e r of
d a r k n e s s , t h o u g h u n d e r r i f l e f i r e from t h e b a n k s , and a g a i n
a n c h o r e d ; s h e t h e n c o m p l e t e d t h e l a n d i n g of a l l h e r more
I am s o r r y t o s a y
s e r i o u s l y wounded, i n c l u d i n g h e r C a p t a i n .
t h a t t h i s v e r y g a l l e n t o f f i c e r , who h a d i n s i s t e d on r e m a i n i n g
w i t h h i s s h i p up t o t h i s t i m e , d i e d o f h i s wounds s o o n a f t e r .
T h e r e r e m a i n e d on b o a r d t h r e e R.N. o f f i c e r s , 1 R . A . F . D o c t o r ,
52 r a t i n g s and 8 C h i n e s e .
At a b o u t t h i s t i m e L t . Cdr. K e r a n s ,
t h e A s s i s t a n t N a v a l A t t a c h e a t N a n k i n g , r e a c h e d t h e s h i p and
assumed command.
17.
A n o t h e r c o u r a g e o u s e f f o r t t o r e a c h "Amethyst" was made b y
t h e R . A . F . i n a S u n d e r l a n d on t h e a f t e r n o o n o f t h e 22nd. b u t
t h e a i r c r a f t v/as d r i v e n o f f by a r t i l l e r y f i r e w i t h o u t
The "Amethyst" t h e n moved
s u c c e e d i n g i n making c o n t a c t .
She was i n c l o s e t o u c h w i t h
a f u r t h e r f o u r m i l e s up r i v e r .
t h e F l a g O f f i c e r , and a f t e r a number o f c o u r s e s had b e e n
c o n s i d e r e d i t was d e c i d e d t h a t s h e s h o u l d r e m a i n where s h e
was.
18.
P e r h a p s I may a t t h i s p o i n t a n t i c i p a t e two q u e s t i o n s
F i r s t , how was i t t h a t
w h i c h may p o s s i b l y be a s k e d .
H.M. S h i p s s u f f e r e d s u c h e x t e n s i v e damage and c a s u a l t i e s ,
and s e c o n d , why t h e y w e r e n o t a b l e t o s i l e n c e t h e o p p o s i n g
In answer t o t h e
b a t t e r i e s and f i g h t t h e i r way t h r o u g h .
t?irstj, I would o n l y s a y t h a t W a r s h i p s a r e n o t d e s i g n e d t o
o p e r a t e i n r i v e r s a g a i n s t massed a r t i l l e r y and i n f a n t r y
s h e l t e r e d by r e e d s and mudbanks.
The Communist f o r c e s
,appear t o have been c o n c e n t r a t e d i n c o n s i d e r a b l e s t r e n g t h
and a r e r e p o r t e d a s b e i n g l a v i s h l y e q u i p p e d w i t h H o w i t z e r s ,
medium a r t i l l e r y a n d f i e l d g u n s .
The a b o v e f a c t s a l s o
p r o v i d e much of t h e a n s w e r t o t h e s e c o n d q u e s t i o n o n l y
I would add t h i s .
The F l a g O f f i c e r ' s p o l i c y t h r o u g h o u t
was d e s i g n e d o n l y t o r e s c u e H . M . S . " A m e t h y s t " a n d t o a v o i d
unnecessary casualties.
T h e r e -was n o q u e s t i o n of a
p u n i t i v e e x p e d i t i o n a n d H.M. S h i p s f i r e d o n l y t o s i l e n c e
t h e f o r c e s f i r i n g a g a i n s t them.
1-9.
I will at this point briefly
a n d damage w h i c h r e s u l t e d .
The c a s u a l t i e s
summarise the
losses
were:-
H.M.S,
"London";
13 k i l l e d .
H.M.S.
"Consort";
10 k i l l e d .
H. M. S.
"Amethyst";
19 k i l l e d .
H.M.S.
" B l a c k Swan"; 7 wounded.
15 w o u n d e d .
k seriously
wounded.
13 w o u n d e d .
I n a d d i t i o n , a n unknown n u m b e r of t h e c r e w of H . M . S .
" A m e t h y s t " may h a v e b e e n k i l l e d o r wounded w h i l e t h e y
w e r e swimming a s h o r e ; some 10 r a t i n g s a r e s t i l l m i s s i n g .
Of t h e damago t o t h e s h i p s , t h e " L o n d o n " s u f f e r e d t h e
most s e v e r e l y , having been h o l e d r e p e a t e d l y in h e r h u l l
and u p p e r works.
T h e damage t o t h e " C o n s o r t " a n d
t h e " B i a c k Swan" was l e s s s e r i o u s .
" L o n d o n " and
" B l a c k Swan" h a v e a l r e a d y c o m p l e t e d t h e i r e m e r g e n c y
repairs.
The " A m e t h y s t " s u f f e r e d s e v e r e d a m a g e b u t
w a s . r e p a i r e d by t h e e f f o r t s of h e r own c r e w t o be c a p a b l e
of- 17 k n o t s .
20.
The H o u s e w i l l w i s h t o know w h e t h e r a n y s t e p s w e r e
t a k e n by o u r a u t h o r i t i e s i n C h i n a t o make c o n t a c t w i t h
t h e Communist a u t h o r i t i e s .
Some t i m e h a s l a p s e d s i n c e
Communist f o r c e s o v e r r a n Mukden, P e k i n g and T i e n t s i n
w h e r e we h a v e C o n s u l a r p o s t s .
His M a j e s t y ' s Consular
O f f i c e r s a t t h e s e p o s t s h a v e b e e n e n d e a v o u r i n g f o r some
time p a s t t o r e a c h d a y - t o - d a y working arrangements with
the l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s .
T h e i r approaches have, however,
b e e n r e j e c t e d on e v e r y o c c a s i o n w i t h o u t a n y r e a s o n b e i n g
given for such r e j e c t i o n .
2 1 . When H . M . S . " A m e t h y s t " w a s f i r e d u p o n "by Communist f o r c e s
H.M. A m b a s s a d o r i n s t r u c t e d H.M.. C o n s u l a r O f f i c e r i n c h a r g e a t Peking t o communicate t o t h e h i g h e s t competent Chinese Communist a u t h o r i t y by w h a t e v e r means p o s s i b l e a m e s s a g e i n f o r m i n g them of t h i s and s e e k i n g t h e i s s u e of i m m e d i a t e i n s t r u c t i o n s b y t h e m t o t h e i r M i l i t a r y Commanders a l o n g t h e Yangtse t o d e s i s t from s u c h f i r i n g .
A subsequent message emphasised the u r g e n t n e e d of medical a t t e n t i o n of t h e c a s u a l t i e s and r e i t e r a t e d t h e r e q u e s t f o r i n s t r u c t i o n s t o ' p r e v e n t f u r t h e r f i r i n g u p o n t h e s e s h i p s o f t h e R o y a l Navy e n g a g e d i n p e a c e f u l and h u m a n i t a r i a n t a s k s .
The l o c a l Communist a u t h o r i t i e s , h o w e v e r , r e f u s e d t o a c c e p t t h e C o n s u l ' s letters.
22.
At t h i s t i m e Mr. E d w a r d Y o u d e , a T h i r d S e c r e t a r y i n
H.M. F o r e i g n S e r v i c e who h a s a good k n o w l e d g e o f C h i n e s e ,
v o l u n t e e r e d t o t r y a n d c o n t a c t t h e C o m m u n i s t f o r c e s n o r t h o f Pukou
i n t h e h o p e o f r e a c h i n g some Commanding O f f i c e r w i t h s u f f i c i e n t
authority to stop the f i r i n g .
H.M. A m b a s s a d o r a g r e e d t o t h i s
a t t e m p t a n d Mr. Youde p a s s e d t h r o u g h t h e N a t i o n a l i s t l i n e s o n
t h e n i g h t of 2 1 s t A p r i l .
Thanks to h i s c o u r a g e and
d e t e r m i n a t i o n M r . Youde s u c c e e d e d i n r e a c h i n g t h e f o r w a r d
h e a d q u a r t e r s o f t h e P e o p l e ' s L i b e r a t i o n Army i n Pukou a r e a o n
23rd Aprili
He d e s c r i b e d t h e s i t u a t i o n a s he knew i t when h e
l e f t . N a n k i n g on 2 1 s t A p r i l and p o i n t e d o u t t o them t h e p e a c e f u l
and h u m a n i t a r i a n n a t u r e o f t h e m i s s i o n of H.M.S. "Amethyst"
and r e q u e s t e d t h a t she be a l l o w e d t o p r o c e e d t o Nanking o r
Shanghai without f u r t h e r m o l e s t a t i o n .
Their headquarters took
t h e l i n e t h a t c l e a r a n c e h a d n o t b e e n o b t a i n e d from t h e P e o p l e ' s
L i b e r a t i o n Army a n d t h a t s h e h a d e n t e r e d t h e w a r a r e a .
They
a l s o complained of heavy c a s u a l t i e s i n c u r r e d by t h e i r t r o o p s as
a r e s u l t o f f i r e f r o m H.M. S h i p s .
They r e f u s e d t o a d m i t
j u s t i f i c a t i o n or s e l f - d e f e n c e .
After consulting higher authority
t h e h e a d q u a r t e r s s t a t e d t h a t i n t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h e y w o u l d be
p r e p a r e d t o a l l o w t h e s h i p t o p r o c e e d t o Nanking b u t o n l y on
c o n d i t i o n t h a t s h e s h o u l d a s s i s t t h e P e o p l e ' s ' L i b e r a t i o n Army
to cross the Yangtse.
S u c h a c o n d i t i o n was o b v i o u s l y
unacceptable.
2 3 * M'y a t t e n t i o n h a s b e e n drawn t o - a communique b r o a d c a s t b y
t h e Communists which s a i d t h a t on t h e d a t e i n q u e s t i o n w a r s h i p s
on t h e Y a n g t s e o p e n e d f i r e t o p r e v e n t i t s c r o s s i n g b y
Communist f o r c e s .
I t v/as n o t i m t i l t h e f o l l o w i n g d a y t h a t t h e y
l e a r n e d t h a t t h e s e s h i p s were n o t a l l Chinese but t h a t f o u r
B r i t i s h s h i p s w e r e among t h e m .
The C o m m u n i s t s s t a t e t h a t t h e i r
f o r c e s s u f f e r e d 252 c a s u a l t i e s a s a r e s u l t o f t h i s f i r i n g a n d
c l a i m t h a t His M a j e s t y ' s Government have d i r e c t l y p a r t i c i p a t e d
i n t h e C h i n e s e C i v i l War b y f i r i n g o n C o m m u n i s t p o s i t i o n s .
T h e s e * l a i m s a r e , of c o u r s e , so f a r a s t h e y r e l a t e t o H i s
M a j e s t y ' s G o v e r n m e n t o r t h e R o y a l N a v y , a s f a n t a s t i c as t h e y
are unfounded.
2k.
I f t h e r e w a s any i n i t i a l m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g a s t o t h e
n a t i o n a l i t y of H.M.S. "Amethyst" t h i s would have b e e n s p e e d i l y
r e s o l v e d h a d t h e a u t h o r i t i e s i n P e k i n g a c t e d o n H.M. A m b a s s a d o r ' s
message.
M o r e o v e r , h a d t h e Communist a u t h o r i t i e s o b j e c t e d i n
t h e p a s t t o t h e movement of B r i t i s h s h i p s o n t h e Y a n g t s e i t was
always open t o them t o r a i s e t h e s e t h r o u g h our C o n s u l a r
a u t h o r i t i e s in North China.
I t i s the f a c t that for reasons
b e s t known t o t h e m s e l v e s t h e C o m m u n i s t s h a v e f a i l e d t o n o t i f y
any f o r e i g n a u t h o r i t y p r e s e n t i n a r e a s w h i c h t h e y h a v e
o c c u p i e d of t h e c h a n n e l s t h r o u g h w h i c h c o n t a c t can be m a i n t a i n e d
a n d t h a t t h e y h a v e r e j e c t e d a l l c o m m u n i c a t i o n s made t o t h e m .
In
t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s His M a j e s t y s Government can o n l y r e s e r v e
their position.
1
r
Ai ­
111
25o
The H o u s e w i l l w i s h t o j o i n me i n e x p r e s s i n g s y m p a t h y
w i t h t h e r e l a t i v e s o f a l l t h o s e who h a v e b e e n k i l l e d o r
wounded i n t h i s - a c t i o n and i n e x p r e s s i n g a d m i r a t i o n of t h e
c o i x r a g e o f a l l t h o s e who t o o k p a r t i n i t .
F o u r names d e s e r v e
special tribute.
L t . Commander S k i n n e r , R. N . , t h e C a p t a i n o f
t h e " A m e t h y s t " , and L t . J . C . W e s t o n , R..N. h i s F i r s t L i e u t e n a n t ,
(who f o r a s h o r t t i m e s u c c e e d e d h i s C a p t a i n i n command o f t h e
ship) lost t h e i r lives through t h e i r devotion to duty.
Both
were s e v e r e l y wounded b u t r e m a i n e d a t t h e i r p o s t s , f i g h t i n g
and m a n o e u v r i n g t h e s h i p ' and removing t h e wounded to s a f e t y .
Both l e f t t h e s h i p too l a t e t o r e c e i v e e f f e c t i v e s u r g i c a l a i d
fo r t h e m s c i v e s .
26.
T e l e g r a p h i s t J . L . F r e n c h showed s u p e r l a t i v e d e v o t i o n t o
duty.
He w a s t h e o n l y t e l e g r a p h i s t l e f t i n t h e " A m e t h y s t "
a f t e r t h e e a r l y h o u r s of 2 1 s t A p r i l ;
and from t h e n onwards
h i s e f f o r t s kept t h e s h i p i n almost c o n t i n u o u s communication
with Shanghai. '
27* The f o u r t h name i s t h a t of Mr. Y o u d e , w h o s e one man m i s s i o n
t h r o u g h t h e Communist Armies I have a l r e a d y d e s c r i b e d .
2 8 . W i t h o u t a doiibt .many o t h e r c a s e s of b r a v e r y a n d d e v o t i o n
w i l l b e r e v e a l e d when a l l t h e f a c t s a r e k n o w n .
But we a l r e a d y
h a v e ample e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e c o n d u c t of t h e w h o l e s h i p ' s
company of H . M . S . " A m e t h y s t " w a s b e y o n d a l l p r a i s e , t h o u g h a
c o n s i d e r a b l e p r o p o r t i o n were young s a i l o r s u n d e r f i r e f o r t h e
f i r s t t i m e . We h a v e h a d r e p o r t s of s e a m e n a n d m a r i n e s
r e m a i n i n g a t t h e i r t a s k f o r u p t o 2k h o u r s t h o u g h b a d l y
w o u n d e d , a n d o f men d e c l i n i n g t o h a v e t h e i r w o u n d s t r e a t e d
u n t i l c a s e s t h e y c o n s i d e r e d more u r g e n t had b e e n d e a l t w i t h .
I h a v e h e a r d t o o t h a t i n H . M . S . " L o n d o n " a n d " B l a c k Swan",,
w h e n t h e r e .was a p o s s i b i l i t y o f v o l u n t e e r s b e i n g f l o w n t o
" A m e t h y s t " ; , t h e r e was a l m o s t a c r i m o n i o u s r i v a l r y f o r
s e l e c t i o n , - a s . t h e y p u t i t " t o go b a c k f o r m o r e " .
29J
In conclusion, I should mention that the United States
n a v a l a u t h o r i t i e s at Shanghai placed t h e i r r e s o u r c e s
u n s t i n t i n g l y a t o u r d i s p o s a l , and t h e k i n d n e s s and h e l p of t h e
B r i t i s h communities at Shanghai have been beyond a l l p r a i s e .
F i n a l l y , the Chinese N a t i o n a l i s t , f o r c e s i n Chinkiang area were
m o s t h e l p f u l i n p r o v i d i n g m e d i c a l a i d and s t o r e s w h i c h t h e y
could i l l afford.
The H o u s e w i l l j o i n w i t h me i n e x p r e s s i n g
o u r g r a t i t u d e t o a l l of t h e s e .
ANNEX B
SUPPLEMENTARY wwiaa
l g e n c e of Communist
3
*
after.
.
To r e t a n t o t h e AMETHYST 'S n a r r a t i v e .
By t h e
of t h e 2 2 n d s h e h a d r e a c h e d a f a i r l y s a f e p o s i t i o n .
p o s s i b l e c o u r s e s of a c t i o n w e r e c o n s i d e r e d . plans
AMETHYST*S p o s i t i o n - o n - 2 2 n d A p r i l a n d
(a)
Ob)
(Q)
to
(a)
t o s t a y where s h e was
to attempt
t o g e t dov/n r i v e r
to attempt
t o g e t up r i v e r t o
abandon the
to
afternoon
Pour
Shanghai
Nanking
ship
H e r Commanding O f f i c e r h e l d h i m s e l f r e a d y t o f o l l o w a n y of t h e s e
courses.
R e p o r t s w h i c h b e g a n t o come i n o f t h e c r o s s i n g o f
Communist t r o o p s a b o v e and b e l o w h e r p o s i t i o n m e a n t t h a t a t t e m p t s
t o r e a c h S h a n g h a i or Nanking a t t h i s time would almost c e r t a i n l y
end i n d i s a s t e r .
F u r t h e r damage m i g h t s i n k t h e s h i p ;
the
c r e w t h o u g h i n g o o d h e a r t w e r e p h y s i c a l l y e x h a u s t e d a n d of c o u r s e
depleted in numbers;
n a v i g a t i o n of t h e Y a n g t s e i s always
d i f f i c u l t and v i r t u a l l y i m p o s s i b l e a t n i g h t ;
t h e r a d a r and gyro
c o m p a s s w e r e o u t of a c t i o n a n d t h e m a g n e t i c c o m p a s s d o u b t f u l .
The c o u r a g e o u s C a p t a i n v/as u n w i l l i n g t o a b a n d o n h i s s h i p u n t i l
t h e r e s u l t of t h e a p p r o a c h o f a m i s s i o n s e n t t o t h e C o m m u n i s t s
s h o u l d b e known;
t h e r e was a l s o , a p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t t h e
Ambassador h i m s e l f might n e g o t i a t e a s a f e p a s s a g e w i t h t h e
Communist a u t h o r i t i e s a t a l a t e r s t a g e o r e v e n t h a t t h e s h i p
m i g h t s l i p down l a t e r , a f t e r t h e c r e w h a d b e e n r e s t e d and t h e
armies had completed t h e i r c r o s s i n g .
S h e was now i n a
c o m p a r a t i v e l y s a f e p o s i t i o n a n d i n f a c t was o n l y f i r e d o n t w i c e
i n t h e n e x t 1+8 h o u r s . So s h e r e m a i n e d w h e r e s h e w a s , s h i f t i n g
b e r t h s l i g h t l y on two o c c a s i o n s .
ho
Risks attendant
on p a s s a g e o f t h e
Yangtse,
The p a s s a g e h a s a l w a y s b e e n r e g a r d e d as one o f some r i s k i n
case i r r e s p o n s i b l e elements ori-"either bonk opened f i r e . N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e
N a v a l C o m m a n d e r - i n - C h i e f d e c i d e d t h a t , s i n c e t h e r e h a d b e e n no
o p p o s i t i o n o r p r o t e s t s on e i t h e r s i d e a n d s i n c e o u r aim was
p e a c e f u l , t h e p a s s a g e s s h o u l d b e c o n t i n u e d u n t i l i t became
a p p a r e n t t h e y would be opposed;
I full:/ endorse his decision. ­
i n
The H o u s e w i l l of c o u r s e a p p r e c i a t e t h a t i f d u r i n g t h e s e m o n t h s
p a s s a g e s h a d b e e n s t o p p e d b e c a u s e of t h e u n e a s y s i t u a t i o n , o r
b e c a u s e of i n d i v i d u a l s c a r e s , (of which t h e r e were many), t h e
r e q u i r e m e n t s of t h e Embassy and t h e B r i t i s h community i n Nanking
would not have b e e n m e t .
The Navy h a s a l w a y s b e e n p r e p a r e d , and
I hope w i l l always be p r e p a r e d , t o take j u s t i f i a b l e r i s k s i n
carrying
out i t s t a s k s .
5*
Have t h e A m e r i c a n s
Nanking?
or French r e c e n t l y had warships
at
, / I t i s n o t known w h e t h e r a U . S . w a r s h i p h a s b e e n a t N a n k i n g
i n recent weeks.
Information is being u r g e n t l y obtained through
the
U . S . Naval A t t a c h e ^
T h e r e a r e no i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t
Nanking i n the l a s t 6 weeks. a French warship has been
Both t h e Americans and French have s h i p s
(Woosung). 6
e
Why was a i r
cover not
at Shanghai
at -­
provided?
A i r cover would have been i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h the
i n t e n t of H . M . S . AMETHYST. peaceful I n f a c t , a i r cover would not have b e e n a v a i l a b l e .
B e a u f i g h t e r s from S i n g a p o r e c o u l d not have a r r i v e d b e f o r e
Tuesday, 26th A p r i l .
7,
Why i s A d m i r a l - B r i n d s t i l l
i n London?
The C o m m a n d o r - i n - C h i e f was p a y i n g a s p e c i a l v i s i t b y a i r t o
England to a t t e n d e x e r c i s e T r i d e n t with o t h e r Commanders-inC h i e f . T h i s v i s i t was a r r a n g e d l a s t J a n u a r y .
His presence i n
London has b e e n most h e l p f u l i n the h a n d l i n g of t h e s i t u a t i o n .
A r r a n g e m e n t s h a v e b e e n made f o r h i s r e t u r n b y a i r on T h u r s d a y ,
s e v e r a l days e a r l i e r than o r i g i n a l l y i n t e n d e d .
I f he h a d r e t u r n e d a t o n c e ' he w o u l d h a v e b e e n of no s e r v i c e
e i t h e r i n t h e A d m i r a l t y o r o n h i s s t a t i o n w h i l e on p a s s a g e a t
this c r i t i c a l time.
The A d m i r a l t y h a s c o m p l e t e c o n f i d e n c e i n
V i c e - A d m i r a l Madden, h i s Second-in-Command.
8.
Did t h e N a t i o n a l i s t
- We a r e
forces
fire
advised that they did
on H.M.
Ships?
not.
I t is undesirable for s e c u r i t y reasons, to give a d e t a i l e d
9
e x p l a n a t i o n of t h e AMETHYST'S p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n a n d p o s s i b l e
c o u r s e s of a c t i o n , u n l e s s t h e AMETHYST S p o s i t i o n h a s ­
s u b s t a n t i a l l y a l t e r e d by the time t h i s statement i s made.
0
1
ANNEX 0
120
COPY OF TELEGRAM
FROM H.M. AMBASSADOR. NANKING, TO FOREIGN OFFICE
N o . k 8 9 d a t e d 2 h t h A p r i l . 1 QUoT
:
I n so f a r as p o l i t i c a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s are c o n c e r n e d , I f e e l t h a t t h e w i t h d r a w a l o f t h e w a r s h i p s a t t h i s moment w o u l d h e u n f o r t u n a t e i n view of t h e a t t i t u d e of t h e C o m m u n i s t s a s c o n t a i n e d i n s t a t e m e n t q u o t e d i n my t e l e g r a m k 8 8 . We h a v e m a i n t a i n e d t h a t t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e s e s h i p s i n C h i n e s e w a t e r s i s f o r p e a c e f u l and h u m a n i t a r i a n purposes.
T h e i r w i t h d r a w a l now m i g h t u n d e r m i n e t h e v a l i d i t y of our case as w e l l as i n c r e a s e l o c a l p a n i c . I t i s v i t a l t h a t a l l t h r e e Governments concerned ( U n i t e d S t a t e s , F r e n c h and His M a j e s t y ' s Government) should take similar action.
My F r e n c h c o l l e a g u e i s i n c l i n e d t o t h i n k t h a t t h e s h i p s s h o u l d be m a i n t a i n e d u n t i l d e f i n i t e d e c i s i o n r e g a r d i n g e v a c u a t i o n of f o r e i g n n a t i o n a l s i s r e a c h e d and a c t e d u p o n , a n d s h o u l d t h e n b e p r o m p t l y withdrawn.
I n view of t h e r e c e n t developments, I agree w i t h t h i s p r o p o s a l and c o n s i d e r i t u n d e s i r a b l e f o r H.M. S h i p s t o b e i n S h a n g h a i when t h e C o m m u n i s t s a r r i v e .
I
h a v e c o n s u l t e d my C o m m o n w e a l t h c o l l e a g u e s who a r e i n c o m p l e t e a g r e e m e n t . ' I w i l l t r y t o c o n s u l t my U n i t e d S t a t e s c o l l e a g u e i n t h e c o u r s e of t h e day. 3.
I f u l l y e n d o r s e t h e view of His M a j e s t y ' s
G e n e r a l S h a n g h a i s e t . f o r t h i n p a r a g r a p h 3 of h i s t e l e g r a m 79 t o m e . Consul ii.
I t i s t o o e a r l y t o judge from t h e i r a c t i o n s h e r e what a r e t h e a t t i t u d e and i n t e n t i o n s of t h e Communists. ANNEX D
COPY OF TELEGRAM FROM CONSUL-GENERAL, SHANGHAI. TO FOREIGN OFFICE N o . 2 3 8 of 2 h t h A p r i l . 1 9k9* C o m m u n i s t comment a s made h e r e s a y s t h a t a t f i r s t t h e
s h i p s were mistaken f o r N a t i o n a l i s t v e s s e l s but t h a t l a t e r i t
was r e a l i s e d t h a t t h e y w e r e B r i t i s h s h i p s s e n t ( s i c ) t o
i n t e r f e r e w i t h t h e c r o s s i n g i n t h e i n t e r e s t s of t h e
Nationalists.
I t c l a i m s t h a t o u r s h i p s f i r e d f i r s t of a l l ,
a n d t h a t C o m m u n i s t s s u f f e r e d 262 c a s u a l t i e s " f o r w h i c h
B r i t i s h I m p e r i a l i s t s w i l l be h e l d r e s p o n s i b l e " .
2.
I do n o t a d m i t t h i s a s m e a n i n g t h a t t h e B r i t i s h
communities here or elsewhere w i l l s u f f e r r e p r i s a l s , but i f
t h e C o m m u n i s t s do come q u i c k l y t o S h a n g h a i t h e y may a r r i v e i n
a n g r y mood w i t h B r i t i s h i n g e n e r a l a n d R o y a l Navy i n
particular.
I t i s , of c o u r s e , p r o b a b l e t h a t t h e i r a r r a n g e m e n t s
f o r c r o s s i n g a t one p o i n t i n q u e s t i o n w e r e e f f e c t i v e l y
disjointed.
3.
I s u b m i t t h a t from t h e p o l i t i c a l a n g l e i t i s o u t o f
t h e q u e s t i o n t o t h i n k now o f b r i n g i n g t r o o p s f r o m H o n g k o n g t o
a s s i s t i n a n y e v a c u a t i o n -and I s h a l l a d v i s e t h e E m e r g e n c y
Committee i n t h a t sense u n l e s s o t h e r w i s e i n s t r u c t e d .
I am
showing t h i s t e l e g r a m t o Admiral Madden.
k.
Any g u i d a n c e you c a n g i v e me a b o u t t h e a t t i t u d e
i n t e n t i o n s of t h e Communists w i l l be welcome.
-9­
or
ANNEX B
COPY OF TELEGRAM PROM FLAG OFFICER, SECOND IN COMMAND. FAR EAST, TO ADMIRALTY I concur t h a t
troops
c a n n o t - now h e u s e d w i t h
advantage.
2.
I n any c a s e i t s e e m s p r o b a b l e t h a t t h e r e w i l l n o t now be any t i m e f o r t h e o r d e r e d p l a n f o r e v a c u a t i o n t o be u s e d . 3*
C o n s u l - G e n e r a l i n f o r m s me t h a t h e i s a r r a n g i n g f o r
v o l u n t a r y e v a c u a t i o n of non e s s e n t i a l s by commercial sea
p a s s a g e and a i r c r a f t a n d a n t i c i p a t e t h a t t h i s new p l a n d o e s
not need Naval aid. ­
k*
I t seems t h a t t h e p r e s e n c e of W a r s h i p s a t S h a n g h a i can
o n l y b e an i r r i t a n t t o t h e C o m m u n i s t s when t h e y a r r i v e and
t h a t t h e y may c o n s t i t u t e a p o s i t i v e d i s a d v a n t a g e t o t h e
B r i t i s h Community.
5*
I therefore intend
Shanghai i m m e d i a t e l y by
Monday a n d CONSTANCE f o r
following day.
t o r e d u c e t h e number of W a r s h i p s a t
s a i l i n g SHOALHAVEN f o r K u r e t o m o r r o w
t h e Chusan A r c h i p e l a g o on t h e
'
­
6.
The d e p a r t u r e o f LONDON and BLACK SWAN m u s t d e p e n d o n
c i r c u m s t a n c e s , but I i n t e n d t o a v o i d i f p o s s i b l e , t h e r i s k of
b e i n g l o c k e d i n by. Communist c o n t r o l o f t h e r i v e r .
I have l i t t l e
i n f o r m a t i o n a s t o r a t e of a d v a n c e o f C o m m u n i s t s b u t i t s e e m s
very rapid indeed.
7*
Consul-General agrees t h a t s h i p s should not remain
these circumstances.
I s h a l l remain i n the v i c i n i t y .
8.
I have e x c h a n g e d v i e w s on t h i s s u b j e c t w i t h
C o m n a v w e s t p a c who h o l d s s i m i l a r v i e w t h a t t h i s r i s k m u s t
be r u n .
in
not
APPENDIX P
.
COPY OF TELEGRAM, FROM,, ADMIRALTY TO
FLAG OFFICER. SECOND IN COMMAND. FAR EAST
Y o u r 2M627
-
Act a t y o u r
Consul G e n e r a l .
.
)
discretion, in consultation with
the
APPENDIX G
Statement
His M a j e s t y ' s S h i p s have b e e n at Nanking and Shanghai
s o l e l y t o p r o v i d e a s s i s t a n c e f o r Commonwealth n a t i o n a l s i n
c a s e of a b r e a k d o w n o f l a w a n d o r d e r d u r i n g a n y c h a n g e - o v e r
of a u t h o r i t y .
As s o o n a s c i r c u m s t a n c e s p e r m i t , i t i s i n t e n d e d t o
w i t h d r a w B r i t i s h w a r s h i p s and to c o n t i n u e n o r m a l p r o c e d u r e
w i t h r e g a r d to. v i s i t s to f o r e i g n p o r t s ­