893.102S/2085½
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton)
Captain Schuirmann of the Navy Department called and informed us that Admiral Hart had replied to the Navy Department’s message as follows: his recommendation would not involve any change in the status of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps but related solely to the replacement of the British troops, if withdrawn, in Sector B; that discussion on the subject might be had between Washington and Tokyo or with the Japanese at Shanghai; that such discussion could be entered into only after the British had reached a decision that they intended to withdraw the British forces; and that while he had conferred with Mr. Gauss last September and subsequently on this general subject he had not had any conferences recently with the American Consul at Shanghai.