393.115/149: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 2—3:42 p.m.]
81. Ambassador’s circular, January 10, 11 a.m.
1. The following communication was received today from the local Japanese Embassy under date January 31.
“I have the honor to inform you that I am in receipt of a communication from the Chief of Staff of the Terauchi forces pertaining to the protection and respect of life and property of the nationals of the third powers as hereinafter mentioned:
(1) The request is made for the placement of the proper marks visible both from the ground and the air on all the establishments maintained by the nationals of third powers in order to assure their protection from bombing and gunning in the area extending generally from the lines connecting the cities of Tsingtao, Yenchow, Taming, Changte and Taiyuan (these cities proper are not included) southward to the Yangtze River.
It is further requested to communicate to the Japanese Embassy regarding the positions of such establishments bearing the marks and other necessary information, with an inclosure, if possible, of city or town maps containing specific designations.
(2) It is unofficially requested that proper steps will be taken for the encouragement of nationals of the third powers to evacuate from the areas of hostilities in order to avoid possible danger to their lives.”
2. The Embassy has before it the Department’s 299, October 5, 8 p.m.,38a and supplementary instruction 302, October 6, 7 p.m.,38b both contained in your January 5, 5 p.m.,38c but is uncertain whether it should reply in the sense of those two telegrams or whether it should instruct the consulates concerned to supply such of the information as is available or can be obtained. In this connection see paragraph 2 of Shanghai’s 3, January 2, noon.38c Your instructions are respectfully requested.
3. It is believed that the consulates concerned would find it impossible in many instances now to communicate with places within the zone indicated by the above-mentioned letter in which there may be American property.
4. It would appear that the request contained in paragraph number 2 of Morishima’s letter has already been complied with.
Sent to the Ambassador.