393.115/315: Telegram
The Third Secretary of Embassy in China (Allison) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 9—10:57 a.m.]
113. Shanghai’s number 754, June 1, 11 p.m., and press reports that Japan was sending an Interdepartmental Committee to investigate means of restoring American property in Central China under the occupancy of Japanese forces.
The Japanese Consul General gave a dinner last night in honor of Bos, visiting Netherlands Secretary, at which were present a Mr. Ishii of the American Bureau of the Japanese Foreign Office and a Lieutenant Colonel Nishi of the American Section of the Japanese Ministry [Page 347] of War, who had just arrived from Shanghai. It developed that these two, together with a naval officer who was not present, compose the Interdepartmental Committee referred to above. They arrived in Nanking by airplane at noon yesterday and left by train early this morning and their investigations here consisted of talks with high military and naval officials and a conversation lasting about 20 minutes with me after dinner in a crowded room where we were subject to interruption. It is perhaps significant that no attempt was made by either Mr. Ishii or Colonel Nishi to talk with the British Consul, who was present, concerning the return to Nanking of his nationals, or the protection of British property.
Mr. Ishii began by making the familiar excuse that it was not yet safe for foreigners to return to Nanking in large numbers, but upon being pressed and particularly upon being asked why it was apparently safe for missionaries to return and not for business men he made the statement that with regard to the missionaries only Americans were concerned but if business men were permitted to return it would be necessary to permit the return of persons of all nationalities and the authorities do not wish to do that at present. It was obvious that the return of British business men was what was most feared by the Japanese.
It is obvious that the Japanese authorities simply do not want foreign business men to return to Nanking and that excuses will continue to be made unless some stronger action is taken by the interested governments. I therefore recommend that both Tokyo and Shanghai be instructed to continue to press for the return of business men to Nanking but that if no success is achieved by July 1st, that the Japanese authorities be notified that representatives of the Standard Vacuum Oil Company and the Texas Company, the two American organizations most concerned, are being brought to Nanking on the U. S. S. Oahu on her next trip (on or about July 11th according to present plans) and that the American Government trusts that no obstacles will be placed in the way of these men landing in Nanking. If we continue to request permission it will be refused on one ground or another but if we notify the Japanese that the men are coming, as was done in the case of the naval radio operator coming ashore, I believe they will cause no trouble. My British colleague has informed me that he is prepared to make similar recommendations to his Government with regard to obtaining the return of British business men to Nanking.
Sent to Hankow. Repeated to Shanghai and Peiping. Peiping please forward to Tokyo.