793.94/4392: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 24—7:16 p.m.]
106. Following is translation of letter dated February 24 from Mayor to American Consul General, received this evening.
“The record discloses that I have lodged repeated and strong protests with you and the Consuls General of other powers against the use of the Settlement area by the Japanese troops as a base of attack on [Page 438] the Chinese forces. Notwithstanding their expression of willingness to maintain neutrality it is not known yet that the Settlement authorities have adopted all effective measures to restrain the Japanese forces from the act of destroying the neutrality of the Settlement and endangering the life and property of Chinese and foreign nationals. Moreover, for days on end and with the tolerance of the Settlement authorities the Japanese reinforcements have been landing again and again from Hongkew as a base of operations against the Chinese forces. The Japanese flapship continues to ride at anchor even in the vicinity of Hongkew where, under cover of the Settlement, signals are given and orders are issued for attack upon Chinese troops and civilians despite Government knowledge and regardless of the fact that vessels and other property of the powers are bound to be affected by military operations in consequence of such activities. The Chinese military authorities and I, myself, are deeply concerned for the safety of the life and property of Chinese and foreign residents of the Settlement but under the circumstances I feel constrained to reiterate my protest and solemnly declare that my Government will accept no responsibility whatsoever for anything that may result from the inability of the Settlement authorities to restrain the Japanese forces from utilizing the Settlement area as a base of onslaught on Chinese.
For the sake of security, I would request that you instruct all of your nationals residing in the vicinity of the war zone or that of the Japanese quarters to devise means of evacuation and that you pass the information to American naval authorities that their warships and other vessels should not be anchored in the neighborhood of the base of the Japanese forces. Your compliance with this request would be appreciated.”
Repeated to Legation and Nanking.