793.94 Commission/105: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 15—1:25 p.m.]
54. My telegram No. 17, February 8, 6 p.m. I have concurred in second report of League of Nations Shanghai Committee issued February 12th.42 Second report covers events up to and including February 3rd and states that since that date a state of open warfare exists, any pretense of truce being abandoned. It states
“The offensive is entirely in the hands of the Japanese, whose avowed object is to capture Woosung forts and drive all Chinese troops a considerable distance from Shanghai.”
2. I regard the findings of the Committee with respect to Japanese activities inside the Japanese sector as most important. With reference thereto the report states, inter alia,
“The Japanese naval authorities took complete control of the Hongkew district inside the Settlement, barricading streets, disarming police, and overthrew all other municipal activities of the Settlement authorities including the fire brigade. Police posts were prevented from communication with their headquarters. The Shanghai Municipal Council was forced to evacuate schools and hospitals. Numerous excesses including summary executions were committed by marines, reserves and irregulars, the last mentioned who had no official standing being actuated probably by a mere spirit of revenge against the Chinese for earlier anti-Japanese activities. A reign of terror resulted and almost the entire non-Japanese population of the area ran away.”
Repeated to the Legation and Nanking and Tokyo for information.
- League of Nations, Official Journal, March 1932, p. 379.↩