793.94/9779: Telegram
The Consul at Tsingtao (Sokobin) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 29—2:10 p.m.]
Evacuation of Japanese proceeding without incident. Even the principal Japanese hospital is closing, but there will remain perhaps a total of 300 Japanese nationals, such as electric light company and Chinese Government employees, out of a normal population of 16,000 Japanese. All Japanese shipping between Tsingtao and Dairen and between Tsingtao and Japan is ceasing at the end of this month.
Japanese Rear Admiral quoted in the newspapers as stating that the present hostilities are punitive measures against those possessing anti-Japanese spirit and Communists and not against the Chinese people.
“It can accordingly be expected that at comparatively quiet places, such as Tsingtao, Sino-Japanese friendly relations will be restored as soon as the anti-Japanese and Communist elements are out of the Shanghai and Tientsin-Peiping areas.”
Japanese Consul General from Tsinanfu now in Tsingtao emphatically stated to Allison yesterday that Japanese troops would not land in Tsingtao.
[Page 496]Yokohama Specie Bank and Bank of Chosen have asked a local American business man to look after their property while Japanese are gone.
Everything quiet here.