793.94/7571: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 25—9 a.m.]
793. My December 24, 5 p.m. and December 24, 7 p.m. Following departure of two trainloads of students Chinese authorities succeeded in dispersing student groups at North Station and so far as is known effected dispersal without serious injury to anyone.
1. Train stopped at Kunshan about 50 miles from here due to alleged engine trouble and the other at Soochow on a similar pretext. Chinese authorities thereupon commenced to negotiate with the students and endeavored to extract from them a guarantee of good behavior and a promise to refrain from further demonstrations if they were taken back to Shanghai. Reliably informed this morning that the students have refused thus far to give the desired guarantee and that negotiations [Page 498] are continuing; also reliably reported that two small groups of students are engaged this morning in lecturing and distributing handbills in the Nantao and Siccawei areas and that they may attempt to enter the Settlement later. Situation generally easier.
Repeated to Department and Nanking.