Press Release Issued by the Department of State on June 2, 193811
The American consul general at Shanghai has telegraphed that on June 1, 1938, the property of the American Southern Baptist Mission [Page 768] on Paohsing Road in the Chapei district of Shanghai was formally returned by the Japanese authorities to the Mission in the presence of the Treasurer and two other representatives of the Mission, representatives of the Japanese military and consular authorities, and a representative of the American consul general. On this property the American Southern Baptist Mission had conducted two middle schools. The property is within the zone where there was severe fighting between the Chinese and Japanese forces during the period of hostilities in and around Shanghai. First occupied at that time by the Chinese forces, the property was later occupied by the Japanese.
The American consul general at Shanghai has also telegraphed that on May 31 the Japanese military authorities agreed to the return to Nanking of American missionaries formerly resident there and that a total of 10 passes have been issued to such Americans.
With regard to representations which have been made on the subject of restitution to the rightful owners of the property of the University of Shanghai in the Yangtzepoo district of Shanghai and of other American properties, the American Ambassador to Japan has telegraphed under date of June 2 that he has just been informed by the Japanese Foreign Office that the Japanese Government is sending an interdepartmental committee to visit the Japanese-controlled area in central China, not only to investigate the situation relating to the occupancy of American property but also to formulate means for satisfactory adjustment of the situation. The Ambassador reports that he is informed that the committee will consist of Colonel Nishi of the General Staff, Commander Kami of the Navy Department, Mr. Ishii of the American Bureau of the Foreign Office, and one Secretary from the East Asia Bureau of the Foreign Office, and that these officials will fly to Shanghai as accommodations are available on military airplanes within the next few days.
- Reprinted from Department of State, Press Releases, June 4, 1938 (vol. xviii, No. 453), p. 637.↩