793.94/12063: Telegram

The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State

63. By letter dated January 10 Japanese Consul General advised Senior Consul that he had been asked by the Japanese naval authorities to communicate following for information of interested powers.

[Page 761]

“As is known, a part of the booms on the Yangtze River which were originally constructed by the Chinese for their military purposes has recently been forced through by the Imperial Japanese Navy with a view to utilizing the opening only for military navigation. Since the channel forced through the booms cannot be opened for free navigation without causing under the present circumstances no small obstacles to the military operations of the Japanese forces, any vessel whether it be government owned or private owned, other than those of Japanese nationality, which has the desire of passing through the channel is hereby cordially requested to get in touch with the Japanese Navy and secure beforehand their understanding for its prospective navigation through the booms. Needless to add the Japanese Navy are always ready to give sympathetic understanding to the navigation of foreign vessels so far as it is permissible, from the military point of view, and offer facilities to the passage of such vessels by supplying a convoy. It is therefore the earnest desire of the Imperial Japanese Navy that the vessels of the interested powers taking all cognizance and appreciation of the above-mentioned circumstances will scrupulously refrain from attempting to navigate through the forced channel freely or in such a way as may invite misunderstanding with the Japanese Navy.”

Copy to commander in chief.

Gauss