893.00/5520: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Bell) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 13—8:03 a.m.]
343. My 313 August 29, 10 a.m. Reply received from Foreign Office which states in brief that our memorandum of August 28 has been communicated to Ministries of Navy and War and telegraphed to high military authorities in provinces concerned asking them to give strictest attention thereto; Chinese Government has great regard for safety of lives and property of foreign nationals in vicinity of Shanghai and would be very loath to have them suffer any losses. Sincere and [Page 375] earnest efforts will be made to utmost of Chinese Government’s ability to afford them protection. In order to facilitate protection [it is] requested that warning be issued to foreign nationals that they should on no account involve themselves in any way in present hostilities.
I am sending mail circular to all consuls instructing them to issue warning requested as far as American citizens are concerned.