793.94/11220: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 22—3:15 a.m.]
998. 1. I learn this morning that on Saturday afternoon Major General Harada, the Military Attaché of the Japanese Embassy, called on the Secretary General of the Shanghai Municipal Council to communicate a message from General Matsui that the Council must take measures to suppress anti-Japanese activities in the Settlement and in the course of the interview let it be known that the Japanese are considering marching Japanese troops along the Nanking Bund, south of Soochow Creek, to Nantao, the opinion being expressed that such a move would be effective as a demonstration to deter the Chinese from anti-Japanese activities.
2. Without reference to the legal position, on which I think there is much to be said, it cannot be emphasized too strongly that any such ill-advised move by the Japanese military would be disastrous to the peace and order of the foreign protected neutral areas where there is a huge Chinese population of residents and refugees.
3. This morning the Chief of Staff of the Japanese naval landing party has notified the United States Marines, and is similarly informing the British forces, that it is the intention of the landing party to resume the protection of Japanese life and property in the foreign sectors, that Japanese contingents will be sent to the Japanese mills in such sectors, and that it is the intention of the Japanese to transport supplies under guard through the Settlement south of the creek to these contingents and to the Japanese forces in Nantao and west of the perimeter of the foreign lines. I understand these measures are to be taken by December 1st.
Repeated to Tokyo.