Office of the Historian

793.94/4562: Telegram

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

Shanghai, March 4, 1932—5 p.m.
[Received March 4—9:50 a.m.]

154. Continuing my daily report43 number 148, March 3, 4 p.m.

1.
When the Japanese ordered cease firing they stated that they would hold a line Liuho, Taisang, Nanziang and Chenju, but it is now reported that fighting is continuing between Nanziang and Quinsan to the northwest. It may be that the troops that are engaging the Japanese are discontented Chiang Ting-wen’s forces which are recently supposed to have reenforced the 19th Route Army but this has not been confirmed. This is beyond the so-called 20–kilometer limit set by the Japanese.
2.
There is considerable excitement in Nantao because the Chinese are afraid that the Japanese are liable to take over that section of Greater Shanghai. The Japanese have stated that they will not land in Nantao unless Japanese property is molested. Thousands of refugees are pouring into the adjacent [French] Concession and the Settlement.
3.
The Japanese are still patrolling Chapei and the situation there has not been stabilized as yet. In view of the fact that remnants of the Chinese troops may have remained in Chapei and that dangerous objects such as mines, hand grenades and other explosives may have been left behind by the Chinese troops, the Japanese authorities have warned the public not to go into the district of Chapei for the time being until all danger will have been removed by the military authorities temporarily occupying the district. It is pointed out that it will take a few days before Chapei can be restored to order.
4.
Shanghai is returning to a peaceful state. Residents of the districts north of Garden Bridge extending right up to Dixwell Road area may now return to their abandoned homes with comparative safety. The municipal police officers attached to Dixwell Road station are returning to their station today. Also certain of the public schools in that district are reopening on Monday.44 Barbed wire entanglements are being removed from along North Szechuan Road.

Repeated to the Legation and Nanking.

Cunningham
  1. Later daily reports not printed. They were discontinued after March 8.↩
  2. March 7.↩