793.94/4696: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 11—10 a.m.]
181. In continuation of my 174, March 9, 4 p.m., I desire to advise the Department that Fessenden called to discuss the sanitation of extra-Settlement areas now in the control of the Japanese Chargé d’Affaires [authorities?] and I invited Consul General Brenan to participate. It was learned that the Shanghai Municipal Council had a very extensive report from the chief medical officer of the Council regarding conditions existing in the districts to the east of the railway beyond the Settlement limits and a general report in regard to Chapei. The most insanitary part is that part east of Saygin Creek. Thereupon the consular body meeting was convened of the consular representatives concerned to the end that Fessenden might make a statement to the entire consular body. At the meeting at 2 o’clock Fessenden stated that the Council felt that it alone possessed the organization and equipment to cope immediately with the menace and accordingly Fessenden and the Chairman of the Council had called on Mayor Wu of the Shanghai municipality that morning and represented the hygienic dangers of the situation to him, and expressed the desire of the Council to remove, through the Shanghai Municipal Council, public health and public works departments, the threat in the Chapei districts to public health in the Shanghai areas and asked the Mayor if he had any objection to the Council undertaking this work at once. The Mayor replied that he agreed in principle, but wanted us informed in detail concerning the proposed work, in pursuance of which he suggested that his Commissioner of Public Health call on the Shanghai municipal authorities 3 p.m.; this visit was agreed to. The work would be done entirely at the expense of the Council. The Council understood the Japanese authorities would not oppose the work (Consul General Murai confirmed this statement on the proviso that he was first informed when and where the Council proposed to enter on its sanitary activities in Chapei) and if the consent of those concerned could be obtained the Council proposed to commence operations on March 13th or 14th. The Council’s representative had also told the Mayor that the Council was willing to turn this sanitary work in Chapei over to the local authorities immediately those authorities announced they were in a position to undertake it. He stated that the Council realized that in carrying out health measures in Chapei it was, strictly speaking, going outside its province, but it felt its action [Page 566] was justified in the interest of public health of all the Shanghai areas. Accordingly the Council wanted the consular body to support it in its action, or at least to say that it did not disapprove of its projected course. The Council expected to exchange official written communications with the Mayor on the subject of its proposed sanitary work in Chapei, which communications would be made available to the consular body. Fessenden in reply to inquiries stated that the Council intended to confine its work to sanitation and that it was to be done on behalf of the Chinese administration but at no expense to it. The consular body unanimously stated that it would seem that the Shanghai Municipal Council should be commended for the proposal since its limitations were so definite as stated by Fessenden.
Repeated to Legation and Minister.