Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1937, The Far East, Volume III

793.94/11596: Telegram

The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State

Shanghai, December 12, 1937—4 p.m.
[Received 5:55 p.m.]

1137. The Japanese naval landing party have informed the American, British and Italian forces “as a matter of courtesy” that beginning December 15 they intend to send detachments of sailors to certain Japanese mill and other property in the American and Italian sectors for the protection of Japanese nationals.

2. Commander in Chief made representations in the matter to the Japanese Admiral while the Commanding Officer United States Marines has made like representations to the Japanese naval landing party pointing out that the proposed action is unnecessary as Japanese nationals and their property in the American sector are already well protected and the introduction of Japanese sailors may lead to complications which should be avoided.

3. I have made like representations to the Japanese Consul General leaving with him a brief memorandum which I have supplemented by a frank and friendly conversation in which I pointed out that by introducing Japanese armed forces into sectors guarded by other foreign troops those sectors may become the legitimate object of Chinese air raid attacks (we have had one or two small Chinese raids over Hongkew recently and there are reports that the Chinese intend to make a last desperate air raid over Shanghai), that until the serious refugee problem is solved by Japanese action to permit Chinese to return to the countryside it is necessary to continue special military measures in support of the police in the foreign sectors, and that it is advisable to postpone the sending of any Japanese armed forces to the Japanese mills in the foreign sectors until the situation has so improved as to permit the foreign forces to suspend their special protection measures.

4. It is anticipated that the Italians will not interpose objection to the entry of the Japanese forces into the mills in their sector since they recently permitted Japanese military gendarmes to station in those mills without objection and without notifying the foreign forces. There are no mills in the British sector involved in the present matter. The British appear lately to be inclined to interpose little or no objection to whatever the Japanese may do.

5. At the same interview with the Japanese Consul General I made urgent representations in connection with reports that American and other foreign property in the Japanese occupied areas north of Soochow Creek, in the Hungjao District and in areas elsewhere adjacent to the Settlement and Concession is being molested, looted and pilfered. I asked that the Japanese forces in such areas take immediate steps for full and effective protection of American property, and in my conversation I suggested in a friendly spirit that the whole situation here might be greatly eased if instead of advancing plans for the introduction of Japanese armed forces into areas guarded by other foreign forces some effort were made to extend to foreign property in the Japanese occupied areas the same effective protection which is being extended to Japanese property in the foreign sectors.

6. I do not know whether the action here will be effective in postponing the introduction of Japanese armed forces into the area south of the Creek. Our objections stand of record, however, and the Japanese must assume any responsibility for the consequences of any unwise action they may take. There will, of course, be no attempt forcibly to prevent the Japanese from carrying out their plan.⁴

Sent to the Department. Repeated to Tokyo.

Gauss

4. The Consul General in his telegram No. 1144, December 13, 5 p.m., reported postponement of introduction of Japanese naval forces south of Soochow Creek (793.94/11605).