793.94/8995
Memorandum by the Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) of a Conversation With the British Secretary of the Consular Body at Shanghai (Long)37
Mr. Long38 told me yesterday that after the meeting of the Joint Commission he had heard that when the Chinese and Japanese delegates had withdrawn temporarily to permit the representatives of the participating friendly Powers to discuss the situation, Mr. O. K. Yui, the Chinese Delegate, had told Mr. Okamoto, the Japanese delegate, that while he could say nothing officially, privately he could assure him that the report of the fortifying of Woosung was without truth.
Mr. Long told me that he approached the Japanese Consul General and delegate on the Joint Commission (Mr. Okamoto) who confirmed that Mr. Yui had made this private statement. Mr. Long then asked whether the statement satisfied the Japanese. Mr. Okamoto replied that his Navy authorities were still not satisfied and would like an inspection of the area; but he did not know whether any further action would be taken. Mr. Okamoto expressed himself to Long as pleased with the result of the meeting of the Joint Commission since it had brought out and made of record the facts (1) that the Chinese considered the Agreement of 1932 to be still in effect, and (2) that the Chinese recognized that the movement of Chinese troops into the prohibited area would constitute a violation of the agreement.