793.94/2093: Telegram
The Consul at Geneva (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:34 p.m.]
192. Drummond has handed me for communication to you the following message from the Japanese Government dated October 12 which has been circulated to the Members of the Council:
“In view of the very strained situation created by the development of the anti-Japanese agitation in the towns along the Yangtze, the Japanese Government decided to send to Shanghai the cruiser Tsushima, with four torpedo boats and, subsequently on October 8, the cruisers Tenryu and Tokiwa together with two 100–marine fusiliers. However, the Government gave formal instructions to the commander of these naval forces to consult the Japanese diplomatic and consular officers before landing any fusiliers should events appear to call for such action. The sole object of these purely precautionary measures, which are not in any way exceptional and are merely in accordance with the custom followed by nations in such cases, is [to] protect Japanese residents if necessary. Needless to say the Japanese Government wishes to avoid as far as possible any act likely to upset or irritate Chinese public opinion and consequently it will not be necessary to land the marine fusiliers in question if the Chinese authorities take effective steps to combat the anti-Japanese movement.”