793.94/11626: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan ( Grew ) to the Secretary of State

629. Shanghai’s 1137, December 12, 4 p.m. On the basis of the foregoing telegram we approached the Foreign Office orally today and referred to Consul General Gauss’ representations to his Japanese colleague regarding the inadvisability of sending detachments of Japanese troops into the International Settlement and neutral areas to guard Japanese property and reaffirmed the statement made by Gauss to Okamoto.

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We also called attention to the conditions of disorder prevailing in the areas of the International Settlement which are being guarded by the Japanese forces and to the fact that houses owned by Americans and others were being looted. It was argued that if there were available Japanese troops to guard Japanese property in the neutral areas where orderly conditions prevailed they might be used to better advantage in the guarding of the Japanese areas.

The Foreign Office replied that our statements would be taken into consideration in formulating the instructions sent by the Foreign Office to Okamoto.

Repeated to Shanghai.

Grew