393.115/90: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 29—3:30 p.m.]
904. I went with my British, French and German colleagues yesterday afternoon to urge on the Japanese Consul General that as all Chinese authorities have withdrawn from proximity to the Hongkew and Yangtzepoo areas of the International Settlement those districts should now be thrown open without delay or restricted so that merchants may remove or otherwise deal with their cargo and look after their factories, plants and other properties. The Japanese Consul General agreed in principle and said he would do his best to urge the military and naval authorities to the desired end, but it could not be accomplished immediately. He pointed out that the Chinese forces in Pootung continue to shell into these areas and that they are also subject to bombing by Chinese air raiders. We urged that pending the complete opening of the areas there should be immediate and substantial increase in the present facilities for the removal of cargo. Present facilities are much restricted and have resulted in much complaint from our nationals. He promised that the facilities would be widened. While I am thoroughly satisfied that we have been receiving equally as favorable treatment as other nationalities, it is imperative that these facilities be substantially increased. We are now able to move out not more than 200 truck loads a week and have applications on file for a total of over 5000 truck loads.
My colleagues are reporting to their Governments or to Tokyo requesting support of the efforts we are now making here. I trust we may have the support of our Embassy at Tokyo.
Sent to the Department, repeated to Nanking and Tokyo.98
- The Embassy in Japan made oral representations on November 1 (393.115/91).↩