793.94112/367: Telegram
The Consul at Shanghai (Butrick) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 29—3:25 p.m.]
467. My 364, April 23 [29], 6 [5] p.m., Hankow’s 36, May 17, 4 p.m., transportation of Americans to Kiukiang and Hankow. American [Page 524] applicants are waiting for Japanese landing permits and transportation to Kiukiang and Hankow. The Japanese authorities have not issued succeeding permits or arranged such transportation since March 26. They have based their refusals on the grounds of “military necessity”. The Japanese authorities now stating they expect to send a transport to Hankow with facilities for a limited number of foreign passengers on June 5. Since many applicants of British and other nationalities are also awaiting transportation, it is extremely improbable that all the American applicants will be afforded accommodations if the transport does go on June 5.
The U. S. S. Luzon and the U. S. S. Guam are leaving Shanghai for Hankow and way ports on May 31. The American naval authorities offered to send the U. S. S. Isabel also in order to afford transportation for American applicants if Japanese landing permits for the applicants could be obtained. Notwithstanding repeated urgent representations by this office, the Japanese authorities have refused to issue landing permits for American civilians desiring to proceed to Kiukiang and Hankow on American naval vessels. The Japanese authorities have agreed to issue such a permit to Vice Consul Staten because he is a Government official. In connection with the attitude of the Japanese authorities toward the transportation of Americans on American naval vessels, please refer to this Consulate General’s despatch No. 2462, August 24, 193998 reporting the request of the Japanese that the American naval authorities should not provide such transportation.
This office is under considerable pressure from Americans who have been awaiting transportation to Kiukiang and Hankow for a long time, and it is therefore suggested that the Department may wish to have the Embassy take up the matter with the Japanese Government in an endeavor to obtain early transportation for these Americans.
Repeated to Chungking, Hankow and Tokyo.
- Not printed.↩