893.00/5489: Telegram

The Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham) to the Secretary of State

Reliably informed that hostilities broke out at 10 o’clock this morning at Hwangtu 15 miles west of Shanghai between forces of Military Governor Chi and Commissioner of Defense Ho. British, American, Japanese, French, Italian naval contingent in the harbor prepared to land forces to protect foreign settlement if necessary. French consul general has just advised that French naval forces will land at 5 p.m. today in the French concession.

Cunningham