893.00/8067: Telegram

The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State

36. Referring to my telegram No. 35, January 16, 3 p.m. Gauss adds to his telegram the following confidential message:

“Having discussed foregoing with the commander in chief he suggested desirability of my adding following paragraph which is along the lines of what he will report and which is my own view: It is desired to point out that in the event of Chiang Kai-shek’s42 appearing before Shanghai with an army with the intention of taking possession of the Settlement with or without assistance of the mob, any naval landing forces would be entirely inadequate to meet the situation. If the powers wish to ensure inviolability of the Settlements and protection of life and property it would be necessary under these conditions to bring troops here for that purpose, and the number necessary has been variously estimated at about twenty thousand.”

MacMurray
  1. Commander in chief of the Cantonese Northern Expedition. Also known as Chiang Kai-shih and Chiang Chung-cheng.