893.102S/2175: Telegram
The Consul at Shanghai (Butrick) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 12—12:35 p.m.]
767. Redistribution of Shanghai defense sectors. On August 9 after receipt of a letter from the British Commanding Officer that British forces would be withdrawn from Shanghai, Colonel Peck, commanding the Fourth Regiment, United States Marine Corps, addressed a letter to the Secretary of the Shanghai Defense Committee referring to that fact and requesting a meeting of the Defense Committee at the earliest practicable moment at which time he stated he would propose that the American forces take over the garrisoning and defense of the defense sector now allotted to the British [Page 763] forces—that is B and southern D sectors. Copies of that letter were sent to the other members of the Defense Committee. A meeting was arranged for 11 o’clock this morning and was attended by representatives of the American, British, French and Italian forces, Shanghai Volunteer Corps and the municipal police. The Japanese sent no representative, claiming that the meeting had been called on too short notice and that it was irregular. They requested the meeting be convened by Takeda18 on August 15.
Colonel Peck, as senior officer present, acted as chairman of the meeting and presented his proposal. The Committee took cognizance of his proposal and adjourned to reconvene on the 15th.
The Japanese are apparently awaiting instructions from Tokyo. They will undoubtedly oppose the proposal of the marines. In this general connection it may be stated that the so-called Fu-Franklin Agreement of February 16 for policing the western outside roads area has never been implemented and Fu has shown a disposition to postpone by various tactics its implementation. It is possible that the Japanese and Fu are hoping to obtain full jurisdiction in that area and therefore will strenuously oppose American forces operating therein.
Sent to the Department. Repeated to Chungking, Peiping and Tokyo. Admiral Glassford is informing Commander in Chief.
- Rear Adm. M. Takeda, commanding the Japanese naval landing party at Shanghai.↩