393.1115/739: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 13—7 a.m.]
693. During a visit from Japanese Consul General this morning he informed me he had learned of proposals to evacuate Americans from Hankow by Canton–Hankow Railway, that the Japanese Navy does not wish to give any appearance of blocking egress of foreigners from interior and are agreeable to proposal, and that if proposal is carried out he hopes we will give him advance notice so that Japanese naval authorities can be informed. He added, however, that it is the hope that if this route is to be followed the evacuation will be carried out as soon as possible as the railway is known to be moving Chinese troops and military supplies.
Sent to Nanking, repeated to the Department and Hankow.