793.94/8962: Telegram
The Consul General at Hankow (Josselyn) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 24—11:41 a.m.]
While the local conditions described in my July 21, 7 p.m., have not altered, there is an appreciable increase in tension. The mayor of Hankow called this morning and discussed local situation in the course of which he referred to possibility of hostilities here and inquired whether American patrol would accede to a request to move American gunboats in case latter should be in Chinese line of fire. Commander of the [Yangtze] patrol has been informed. On the other hand I learn that orders which had previously been given for the evacuation of Japanese nationals from Chungking to [and other] Yangtze ports above Hankow have been canceled within the past 2 days.
Repeated to Peiping and Nanking.