893.102S/1303: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 25—9:25 a.m.]
811. Department’s 104, April 1, 11 a.m. British Minister when recently in Shanghai, after consultation with Chairman of Municipal [Page 613] Council, made proposal regarding policing of extra-Settlement Road[s] which proposal has been accepted in principle by the Japanese. British Consul General has requested Cunningham to go with him to see Mayor of Shanghai in a day or two regarding proposal. In accordance with Department’s telegram No. 359, October 31, noon, 1932,48 and its 104, April 1, 11 a.m., I have instructed Cunningham that he may make call as requested by his British colleague bearing in mind above two Department’s instructions that matter is one for settlement by strictly local agreement.49
Text of British Minister’s proposals and of preliminary Japanese counterproposals are being transmitted by mail in pouch leaving October 27th.50 In general they are designed to reduce number of commissioned officers of the allowable special Chinese police force for the outside roads area to a minimum and to try and [meet] jurisdiction [requirements] of the Japanese by appointment of Japanese noncommissioned officers, inspectors, et cetera. Both British and Japanese proposals were made by Lampson51 and Ariyoshi52 as purely personal ones and matter is still considered as in confidential stage.