793.94/3769: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 31—9:20 a.m.]
As a sequel to my telegram of January 29, 8 p.m., the Japanese Admiral and Consul General and the Chinese Mayor and General Au San-lin, in command of Chinese forces north of Shanghai, met in conference at the British Consulate General with Brenan and myself as observers. The question of relieving the situation by reaching an agreement between the military forces of China and Japan was the object of the meeting. After 2 hours’ discussion adjourned for the purpose of securing attendance of Defense Committee for joint consideration of the following proposal:
The Japanese should undertake to pursue no further military operations in Chinese territory and withdraw their forces from the railway to the municipal property and road in the tongue. The Chinese to withdraw from the west side of the railway 2,000 meters. The space between the new Japanese position and the railway to be occupied by neutral troops. To the west of the railway to be policed by Chinese policemen.
The discussion will be continued at 3 o’clock with considerable hope of acceptance by the Japanese and Chinese.
Repeated to the Legation and Nanking.