124.93/418: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
379. Department’s 377, December 26, 6 p.m.56 The Department has telegraphed Shanghai as follows:
“Allison and staff should proceed on the Oahu as scheduled but not attempt to land at Nanking until after the first of January.”
Allison and staff are returning to Nanking to reoccupy the American Embassy property, to protect and be of assistance to American nationals and their interests and to handle other official business.
[Page 839]Please call at the Foreign Office and, referring to the request of the Japanese authorities at Shanghai that our officers postpone their departure until after the first of January, state that Allison and staff are proceeding as scheduled on the Oahu which is leaving Shanghai on the 28th and request that instructions be issued to the appropriate Japanese authorities to the end that, when Allison and staff arrive at Nanking there may be no interference in connection with their landing or functioning at Nanking.57