793.94/11554: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 9—7:20 p.m.]
1125. Japanese Consul General at Shanghai has addressed me informally as follows:
“I am writing to you to solicit your good offices in regard to the matter of Japanese property in Tsingtao. As you may be probably aware there are in Tsingtao particularly extensive Japanese interests in the form of investments in cotton mills and other property including public utility works and when Japanese residents in that port city were compelled to evacuate in August last as the result of the Sino-Japanese hostilities these interests were entrusted in the hands of the local Chinese authorities for safe custody.
According to reliable authority emanating from Tsingtao recently, however, it is allegedly reported that the Chinese military authorities stationed there have made it known that in accordance with instructions from the higher command they intend to carry out a wholesale destruction of all the Japanese interests by systematically blowing up the Japanese cotton mills and other establishments. The report is naturally causing great anxiety as well as resentment among all the Japanese concerned and such action on the part of the Chinese authorities if actually resorted to will doubtless constitute a most unwarranted act of vandalism to civilian property which must be respected in all circumstances.
Acting under instructions from my Government I wish to ask you to be so kind as to use your good influence to persuade through appropriate channels the Chinese authorities concerned to refrain from putting into effect their alleged intention. I shall deeply appreciate whatever step that you may be able to take in this matter and I am sure that any such action on your part may be had without prejudice [Page 783] to the policy maintained by your Government throughout the present hostilities.”
I request that the Department issue any desired instructions to the Consul at Tsingtao to whom I am repeating this message and that I be informed what reply to return to the Japanese Consul General here.
Sent to the Department. Repeated to Tsingtao.