893.00/8310: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 24—1:05 p.m.]
178. 1. At diplomatic body meeting this afternoon the following announcement regarding International Settlement of Shanghai was decided upon at the instance of French Minister70 who is to make similar announcement in respect to the French Concession:
“In the light of the military events which are at present taking place in the region of Shanghai and which may at any moment have serious consequences for the safety of the life and property of their respective nationals, as was apparent from the bombardment the 22nd of this month, the interested diplomatic representatives feel compelled to recall that the International Settlement of Shanghai, like the other concessions in China, was established in virtue of regular agreements with the Chinese Government in order to make it possible for foreigners to reside there freely and to carry on their trade.
In the course of the party strife of which that region has been the scene, the authorities of the International Settlement have scrupulously abstained from favoring any of the conflicting parties involved; and in spite of the difficulties of the situation they are maintaining in that respect the strict neutrality imposed upon them by the nature of the state of affairs thus established.
[Page 78]The interested diplomatic representatives are thus warranted in expecting on the part of the Chinese authorities the observance of the same rule of conduct and they look to the heads of the armies involved to take all measures necessary to avoid incidents which would constrain the foreign authorities themselves to take the measures indispensable for insuring the safety of the persons and property of their nationals.”
2. I felt warranted in falling in with this proposal along with the other interested Ministers in view of the Department’s instructions concerning the protection of American life and property in the International Settlement.
3. This announcement has been telegraphed by the Senior Minister to the consular body at Shanghai. It will be released tomorrow morning for publication at Shanghai and Peking.
- Damien de Martel.↩