793.94/9235: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 7—10 a.m.]
435. An American colleague of the Japanese Consul General informs me confidentially that the Japanese Consul General has visited the Mayor in reference to the situation around Kiangwan, immediately north of the Settlement, where the Peace Preservation Corps have been holding night maneuvers. The Japanese Consul General found the Mayor indifferent and indeed belligerent in his attitude; the reverse from which he has been in the past. Japanese Consul General has reported to Tokyo.
- 2.
- Japanese naval landing party has recently been unusually quiet and is apparently avoiding giving cause for any alarm.
- 3.
- Belief is growing amongst responsible Chinese at Shanghai that China would not respect the Foreign Settlement area in the event of a clash with the Japanese in Shanghai.
- 4.
- Frankly, I consider this possibility a real danger. I respectfully suggest the desirability of representations to both the Chinese and Japanese Governments to the end that they undertake not to carry on hostilities in the Shanghai area in view of the danger to safety of large foreign population here.
- 5.
- At my suggestion the American Emergency Committee is organizing, British have not yet taken similar step.
Repeated to Peiping, by mail to Nanking.