393.1115/4969: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Butrick) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:50 p.m.]
Following from Mukden:
“July 25, 11 p.m. Reference my 30, July 24, 5 p.m., and Dairen[’s] July 23, 9 p.m. and July 24, 4 p.m. Confirming previous indications and clarifying the trend of policy, an American who held ticket for Fusan en route to Japan 3 days ago was yesterday finally definitely told he could not go to Fusan and would have his passage refunded. Upon inquiry he was told he could in theory go via Rashin but that unfortunately all steamship accommodations were full until September. [Page 419] He is now trying to get a booking to North China. Another American destined for United States has been endeavoring for several days to get a permit to proceed to North China but is being told each day ‘come back tomorrow.’ Other foreigners are meeting like tactics. It is difficult to escape the conclusion that Americans and others in Manchuria including consular officers are now virtually prisoners at large of the Japanese military forces operating on the continent.21
Sent to Peiping. Repeated to Tokyo, Harbin, Dairen. Krentz.”
Sent to the Department. Repeated to Chungking, Shanghai.
- In telegram No. 44, September 5, 11 a.m., the Consul at Dairen reported: “It is understood that all Americans who have recently attempted to pass in transit through Dairen have been refused the necessary visas” (393.1115/5009).↩