Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The Far East, Volume V

893.811/1167: Telegram

The Consul at Shanghai (Stanton) to the Secretary of State

Shanghai, November 7, 1941—10 a.m.
[Received November 11—9:34 a.m.]

Whangpoo Conservancy.

1. Under date of September 29 the Japanese Consulate General addressed a letter to the Whangpoo Conservancy Board in which it was stated that the Japanese naval authorities have need of the vessel Chienshe, one of the Conservancy’s largest dredgers. It was further stated that in accordance with the agreement reached in 1939 (Shanghai’s despatch No. 2755, December 18, 1939⁴¹) “it was clearly understood that in the event of military necessity the Japanese military and naval authorities had the right to avail themselves of the use of this vessel at any time” but that they proposed not to requisition the dredger but to charter it. The chairman of the board who is Commissioner of Customs objected to the Japanese interpretation of the above mentioned agreement and to the chartering of the dredger. He was out-voted by the other members who are Japanese and Chinese appointed by Nanking.

2. Following a meeting of the Whangpoo Consultative Board held on October 14th the board informed the Whangpoo Conservancy Board that in its opinion it would not be advisable to charter the Chienshe and requested reconsideration of this matter. On October 23rd the Conservancy Board replied that majority of the board remained in favor of chartering the dredger to the Japanese authorities. On October 24th the Consultative Board brought this matter to the attention of the senior consul and requested that representations be made to the Whangpoo Conservancy Board by the consular representatives concerned against proceeding with the chartering of the dredger.

3. The Norwegian Consul General, who is chairman of the Whangpoo Conservancy Consular Committee, decided to call a meeting of the Committee. The Japanese Consul General refused to attend, and it was felt that no useful purpose would be served by convening a meeting under such circumstances. However, the British and Norwegian Consuls General and this office have addressed letters to the senior consul stressing the international status of the Whangpoo Conservancy Board and declining to accept the Japanese contention that they have the right to take over and use Conservancy equipment or that the agreement of 1939 gave the Japanese authorities any such right. Furthermore, it was emphasized that the exercise by the Japanese authorities of the right of military necessity mentioned in the agreement of 1939 clearly referred only to dredging operations. The senior consul was requested to communicate these views to the Conservancy Board and to request a reconsideration of the question of chartering the Chienshe.

4. These communications have failed to deter the Japanese from taking over the dredger which left Shanghai day before yesterday for an unknown destination under Japanese control. My British colleague and I feel that the Japanese contentions and their disregard of the international interests involved should be made the subject of representations to the Japanese Government.⁴²

Sent to Chungking. Repeated to the Department and Peiping. Copy by air mail to Tokyo.

Stanton

41. Not printed.
42. The Ambassador in China (Gauss), in telegram No. 447, November 13, 10 a.m., also expressed the opinion that a protest should be recorded at Tokyo (893.811/1168).