393.1115/991: Telegram
The Consul General at Hankow (Josselyn) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 20—10:50 a.m.]
Shanghai’s September 19, 8 p.m. and previous regarding trains to Canton. After consulting by telephone with the Embassy at Nanking yesterday, I have warned Americans that dangers of travel via Canton–Hankow Railway will probably increase after September 24th.
The efforts of the Tokyo Embassy to obtain from the Japanese promise to refrain from attacking September 24th train from Hankow are appreciated but it should be understood that few of the American population of this district have evacuated and that the intimation from the Japanese authorities that they will feel free after midnight of September 24th to take action against the railway, not excluding attacks on passenger trains, will serve as a formidable deterrent to further evacuation.
Sent to the Department and Nanking, repeated to Shanghai.