Office of the Historian

793.94/4164: Telegram

The Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham) to the Secretary of State

Shanghai, February 13, 1932—4 p.m.
[Received February 13—10:45 a.m.]

45. Continuing my daily report No. 40 of February 12, 6 p.m.

1.
So far the situation both along the Chapei sector and along the Woosung front remains unchanged. Last night a heavy bombardment of the Chinese lines took place during the early part of the evening. Early this morning Japanese planes in reconnoitring the Chinese artillery positions dropped about eight bombs.
2.
I was informed by the Japanese Consulate General that Japanese troops are on the way from Japan. Five transports are scheduled to arrive tomorrow or Monday with seven transports to follow. Some of these troops are to be landed at the Nippon Yusen Kaisha Wayside Wharf in the International Settlement. It is estimated that this force will number anywhere from ten to fifteen thousand.
3.
I have been reliably informed that out of 33,000 Japanese who were in Shanghai at the beginning of the trouble some 20,000 have left for Japan and other parts.
4.
Generally speaking during the past 16 days Shanghai residents in the foreign areas have never experienced such a tense period intermittently broken by the crash of artillery fire and the detonation of aerial bombs. While residents in the Settlement and the French Concession [Page 321] are in comparative safety, it cannot be denied that many shells have fallen within the Settlement. Outside the immediate Settlement boundaries American residents living in the areas controlled by the Chinese under its command are being treated with every consideration. It is in striking contrast to the situation that existed in 1925 and ’27.
5.
It was recognized from the beginning that the danger to the foreign administered areas was due to the Sino-Japanese conflict… Two unsuccessful attempts have been made locally to arrange peace between the Chinese and Japanese, but this conflict still continues to be a very serious menace to the Settlement. Except that the Japanese have landed reenforcements near Woosung and have augmented their military, naval and aerial forces, there has been very little change in the last 16 days in the situation which threatens the Settlement. The Chinese military are constantly being reenforced and their entrenchments are being strengthened but no one can furnish any reasonably accurate estimate of the Chinese troops in the vicinity. These reenforcements by each side are by no means reassuring to the Settlement, as the more strong the resistance the more determined the offensive. The Settlement Defense Committee realizes that their work is most difficult but they are awaiting [developments?] which all fear are inevitable. Local foreign officials are directing their efforts towards the defense of the Settlement and their nationals. While refugees are crowding into the Settlement it is also true that with the arrival of Chinese New Year and the consequent closing down of factories and shops thousands of laborers have proceeded to their country homes throughout this and adjacent provinces. This has acted as a safety valve in what otherwise might have eventually developed into a serious labor crisis. This latter factor is an element which has not previously entered into the troubles in the Settlement. Ordinarily it would be regarded as a serious matter by employers.

Repeated to the Legation and Nanking.

Cunningham