793.94/9628: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:45 p.m.]
498. Commander-in-Chief’s telegram August 23, 9 a.m. The Ambassadors of Germany, Great Britain, United States, France, and Italy this morning decided to make still another effort to diminish dangers to neutral areas and vessels at Shanghai and have sent the following letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs:
“August 23. Dear Mr. Minister: Information has been received that Admiral Hasegawa, the senior Japanese naval officer at Shanghai, has orally agreed to keep Japanese war vessels below a line running from Soochow Creek to Pootung Point, but has requested that a similar agreement be obtained from the Chinese military authorities not to use the area between the barrier off Pootung and the line mentioned above, for passage of hostile allied [naval?] forces.
The section of the Whangpoo between the two points indicated is opposite the International Settlement and the French Concession and in it many foreign vessels are anchored. In the interests, therefore, of these areas and of the vessels mentioned, the undersigned Ambassadors would welcome an assurance that the section of the river described above will not be entered by Chinese craft for any warlike purpose.”
It seems unnecessary to take up this matter in Tokyo.
Repeated to Shanghai.