793.94/4002: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 6—9:10 a.m.]
7. Your February 5, 10 a.m.65 The Municipal Council met shortly before noon January 28th and decided that a state of emergency should be declared as from 4 p.m. that day and Council issued a proclamation on January 28th declaring inter alia “that from 4 p.m. on Thursday January 28, 1932 a state of emergency exists and the Council authorizes the adoption of all requisite measures for the maintenance of order [Page 231] and good government in the Settlement”. Chairman of Council informed Senior Consul of foregoing on the same day and requested latter “to arrange forthwith for the landing of the international forces for the internal defense of the Settlement”. It is my understanding that the declaration of a state of emergency is in effect notice to the commanders of the various national forces that they are expected to be providing to defend their sectors. I am informed that British and American troops started to occupy their respective sectors soon after the declaration of a state of emergency.
Repeated to the Legation, Nanking and Tokyo.
- Not printed; it requested information.↩