793.94/4494: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Forbes) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 1—1:38 a.m.]
84. On February 26 I delivered a memorandum to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in accordance with the Department’s instructions34 requesting that the Japanese move their men-of-war to a point which would not be likely to draw fire from the Chinese to the danger of the Settlement and I am now in receipt of a reply reading in translation as follows:
“The Minister for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the American Ambassador and has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Ambassador’s memorandum dated February 26, 1932. In this memorandum the American Ambassador by direction of his Government expresses the desire that the landing of Japanese reenforcements at Shanghai be carried out at such points outside of the Settlement as will not draw fire from the Chinese troops to the danger of foreigners resident in the Settlement or the ships of other nationals and that the Japanese men-of-war at Shanghai be moved from their present position to a position down the river to prevent the danger of fire from the Chinese troops.
In reply the Minister for Foreign Affairs has the honor to state that although the Japanese Government has the right to land troops at the International Settlement and to anchor warships at the present position, it desires most earnestly to prevent as far as possible any danger to the Settlement or to foreigners and has transmitted the message of the American Government to the authorities of the Army and Navy, who will give as favorable consideration to this matter as possible.”