793.94/3758f: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Forbes)
31. The reports from Shanghai indicate the increasing seriousness of the situation and that, notwithstanding previous protests and assurances, the movement of Japanese armed forces through the Settlement continues as does also the use by the Japanese forces for purposes both of offense and defense of sections allotted to other nationalities, thus violating the status of the Settlement and jeopardizing the lives of its inhabitants. From this it appears that the assurances in this respect received by your British colleague and yourself are disregarded.
Please again represent urgently to the Minister for Foreign Affairs that your Government is of the opinion that the Settlement should not be used by the Japanese authorities in any way as a base for the activities of their armed forces except such forces as may be employed solely for the Settlement’s protection. Should you not receive an entirely satisfactory reply to your representations you should seriously and strongly protest.
I understand that your British colleague has received similar instructions.