893.102S/2321
The Department of the Navy to the Department of State
Admiral Hart reports that he still believes that the permanent garrisoning of Sector B by the Shanghai Volunteer Corps will result in the encroachment by Japanese activities either open or concealed with the consequent impairment of the powers of the municipal police and the council and that it is vital to our interests to prevent such an eventuality; and that the United States should insist on occupation of Sector B by United States forces. But unless the State Department contemplates the continuation of diplomatic approaches toward obtaining Japanese acquiescence in the assignment of Marines to Sector Baker he does not believe any further contribution can be made locally. The suggestion of the Japanese that neither replace the British in either Sector D or B may appear just, but in reality is wholly in Japs favor unless accompanied by an agreement41 that,—(1) except as provided in now existing arrangement with the Shanghai municipal police no Japanese forces of any category or those sponsored by them shall cover Sector B, and (2) that in case of emergency the Council would call first, if not solely, on American forces for assistance. If we are to relinquish our major objectives he suggests that his local efforts be directed along the lines outlined above.
- Here the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck) penciled in the margin: “Agreement would be worthless.”↩