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793.94/5161: Telegram

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

Washington, May 6, 1932—11 a.m.

170. For the Minister. Your May 5, 9 p.m.

1.
Department has had no report from official sources regarding incident on Settlement border to which you refer.
2.
On basis of newspaper reports, it would seem inadvisable to Department to remove 31st Infantry immediately on the heels of that incident.
3.
With regard to other factors, the Secretary of State is now on his way home;1 the Department desires to discuss with him this question and its relation to other questions; therefore probably no action until after his arrival. Inform Commander-in-Chief of all of the above.
4.
Can you inform Department how many (a) British and (b) American soldiers, marines, landable bluejackets and volunteers are now present at Shanghai?2
5.
Please see that Department is informed immediately when state of emergency is lifted.
Castle
  1. Mr. Stimson was in Europe attending the General Disarmament Conference at Geneva.↩

  2. The Consul General replied in telegram No. 241, May 13, 1 p.m.:

    • “(a) Present British forces ashore: 3,049 plus 200 marines and bluejackets immediately landable if necessary.
    • (b) Present American forces ashore: 31st Infantry 1,279, marines 1,412, plus 200 American marines and bluejackets immediately landable if necessary. Shanghai volunteer corps, all nationalities, 2,239. Grand total, 8,379.” (793.94/5218).

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