793.94/3963b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Forbes)
37. American Consul General, Shanghai, reports to the Department that the Consular Body has received from the Defense Committee at Shanghai a strong protest, dated February 2, against the stationing in their sectors of Japanese detachments who commit acts of unnecessary violence against the Chinese population, thereby causing ill-feeling between various nationals stationed in Shanghai and arousing a dangerous feeling of hostility among the Chinese against troops of other powers who are properly responsible for those sectors. The protest states that emphatic protests have already been made to the Japanese Commander without any result to date.
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[Paraphrase.] You should immediately and emphatically protest again to the Japanese Government on the basis of the above information, which you should cite in this connection. You should inform the Japanese Government that the Government of the United States assumes that the Japanese armed forces are so thoroughly disciplined that their actions can be controlled and that, accordingly, the Government of the United States urges that the action of these Japanese forces be subjected to proper measures of control. You should state that this Government regards it as desirable that the Japanese armed forces should discontinue all of their activities in the International Settlement except for such activities as are directed or authorized by [Page 180] the authorities of the Settlement, and that the Japanese armed forces should likewise discontinue any other activities of a sort which may cause unnecessary danger to life in the Settlement or jeopardize its peace and order.
The British Ambassador at Tokyo has been instructed by his Government to renew his protests, and similar action by the Italian and French Governments has been suggested by the British Government. [End paraphrase.]