793.94/9301: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 12—5 a.m.]
452. Following is text of statement made by Japanese Consul General yesterday afternoon to the Senior Consul in reply to the consular body representations quoted in my August 10, 8 p.m.:
“It has been my sincere desire to keep Shanghai free from trouble in the present Sino-Japanese crisis and with this object in view and acting under instructions from my Government, I have been making earnest efforts on our part to avoid any untoward happenings in Shanghai. However, in view of the increasing warlike preparations now being undertaken by the Chinese in the districts immediately adjacent to the foreign controlled areas of Shanghai, I avail myself of this opportunity to draw the serious attention of the interested consular representatives to this flagrant violation of the agreement of the cessation of hostilities of 1932.
2. In these circumstances the consular body is well advised to direct the attention of the Chinese authorities to this deplorable state of affairs, which may prove a serious menace to the safety and integrity of the Settlement and Concession of Shanghai.”
Sent to the Department, Nanking and Peiping.