793.94/3939: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 4—9:35 a.m.]
The following was received by me from the pastor of the Community Church:
“I want you to know that many of us will be humiliated if the amazing and deplorable actions of the Japanese military units in Shanghai are not met with a vigorous protest by our Government.
I am sure that this insanity does not express the thoughts and desires of the great majority of Japanese people and that a protest by the United States will find support in Japan as well as in all other civilized countries.”
The foregoing is a typical inquiry of many Americans. In the same tenor numerous Chinese inquiries are received from individuals and organizations. These, in time, are likely to create a sentiment against the United States. May I say in reply to such inquiries that the American Government has filed a strong protest to Tokyo against the use of the Settlement as a base of activities conducted against the Chinese, including their deplorable action in the Settlement, which of course is more effective than local protests would be.
Repeated to the Legation and Nanking for information.