793.94/9550: Telegram
The Consul at Tsingtao (Sokobin) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 21—5 a.m.]
City remains quiet. A group of foreigners are agitating for a large “neutral zone” in Tsingtao. Plan would naturally involve important political questions and therefore this Consulate unable to conceive of practical methods for its realization. Has Department any suggestions?51
Admiral Shimomura, Japanese senior naval officer, informed me last night that Japanese forces would absolutely make no attack on or in Tsingtao unless Chinese forces move against Japanese here. The Mayor previously contended Chinese would make no attack on Japanese except to resist. There has been a very considerable strengthening of Chinese forces on outskirts of Tsingtao.
Nearly all Japanese women and children have been evacuated.
- The Department replied that the matter was being given consideration.↩