793.94/4311: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 19—11:05 a.m.]
My telegram February 19, 1 p.m.25 I have just called upon Japanese Minister in company with my British, French and Italian colleagues. All using similar wording but speaking each for himself we pointed out that there had been damage to foreign life and property within the Settlement area from shells. We pointed out that on several occasions protests had been made against the use of Settlement by Japanese forces as a base for attack on the Chinese. We stated that in view of the fact that negotiations between Japanese and Chinese had failed we were in the presence of even more serious conflict than hitherto. We stated that Japan could not avoid large measure of responsibility for the jeopardy to foreign life and property at Shanghai due to the hostilities thus brought about.
We expressed the hope that it might still be time to bring about cessation of hostilities even at this eleventh hour.
Japanese Minister stated that it had not been intention of the Japanese to cause destruction or damage to foreign life and property, that it had been their intention to protect Japanese life and property and to protect the Settlement from outside attack. They had been disappointed in this hope. He said that of course nothing could disappoint Japanese Government more than to know that the result of their actions here, had been to cause damage to foreign life and property. In reply to our question as to the possibility of yet bringing about a cessation of hostilities, the Japanese Minister informed us that matters now rested with the Chinese authorities. It was our understanding that hostilities will begin 7 a.m. tomorrow unless the Chinese have withdrawn from the first line.
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