793.94/3845: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:04 p.m.]
Your January 31, noon. I am informed by Mayor that report is untrue that commander of 19th Route Army has asked Mayor to demand that Settlement authorities disarm Japanese marines. Colonel Hooker informs me that at a meeting of the Defense Committee on January 31st an oral request was made of Japanese representative to cease moving armed forces through Settlement. The representative promised to stop movement of armed civilians, but stated that question of movement of Japanese marines would have to be referred to his superiors. Colonel Hooker states that a reserve line has been established approximately east and west on Haiphong Road in American sector and continued by the British from Settlement boundary to Jessfield Park. I [Page 172] understand it is not the intention to withdraw to this reserve line at present, but that it would only be withdrawn to [apparent omission] in the contingency that Japanese should use their mills in northern part of American sector as offensive position against the Chinese in case of an attack by either side. Colonel Hooker states that Defense Committee is strongly of the opinion that withdrawal of American or British forces from sector assigned to them would be a most unwise move. Department’s January 30, 6 p.m. and my reply January 31, 7 p.m.26
2. Colonel Hooker informs me that Defense Committee is preparing a letter requesting Japanese Admiral to give orders to stop patrolling and other armed military demonstrations and to have only sufficient guards in the mills necessary to protect them from inside attempts at injury, and the sector commanders will undertake the protection of the sectors without unauthorized and unrequested assistance from the Japanese.
Repeated to the Legation and Nanking.
- Latter not printed.↩