793.94/13190: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 11—6 a.m.]
812. 1. I have this morning received a letter, marked urgent, dated June 11, addressed to the Ambassador from Matsayuki Tani, [Japanese] Minister at Large reading as follows:
2. “Your Excellency: I have the honour to inform you that I have been requested by our naval authorities to notify our honourable colleagues concerned of the following: (1) While the Japanese naval authorities believe that there are neither men-of-war nor other vessels of third powers within the area from Wuhu to Hukow on the Yangtze River, they earnestly hope that, in view of the possibility that the area in question will become a field of hot fighting on and after the 11th of [Page 598] June, none of such vessels will enter that area so long as the commander in chief of the Japanese Fleet in China seas will find it strategically inconvenient for them to enter; (2) in case there are men-of-war or other vessels of third powers in that area, it is hoped that the immediate notification be made of their names, principal item[s] and present locations, etc., and that they will immediately move to safer places, down from Wuhu or far up the Yangtze River; (3) it is hoped that men-of-war or other vessels of third power[s] now floating on the upper stream above Hukow of the Yangtze River and the lakes adjacent, will sail up beyond Hankow as the hostilities spread to that direction. It is further hoped that their names, principal items, present locations and sailing schedules to the upper stream above Hankow will be immediately notified and that every actual movement of them will be notified as soon as possible.
These requests are based on the sincere wishes on the part of our naval authorities to preclude any possibility in the course of our military operations of causing damage on the vessels of third powers and thus bringing about untoward incidents between Japan and third powers, which they are very anxious to avoid. It is earnestly hoped, therefore, that the third powers concerned, on their part, would cooperate with our naval authorities by complying with the above requests voluntarily. In this connection, I should be grateful if Your Excellency would be good enough to take immediate steps to bring the above to the notice of the interested parties.
I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration, etc.”
3. I have given to the commander in chief a copy of the above-mentioned letter.
Repeated to Hankow, Peiping and Tokyo.