Office of the Historian

793.94/11550: Telegram

The Second Secretary of Embassy in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State

Nanking, December 9, 1937—4 p.m.
[Received December 9—2:19 p.m.]

1024. Shanghai’s 1114, December 8, 5 p.m., and my 1019, December 9, 9 a.m., and 1021, December 9, 10 a.m.

1.
Contents of Shanghai’s 1114 were communicated to all Americans in Nanking this morning who were also informed that list of their names and addresses was being furnished Japanese authorities with request that in case of need these Americans be given appropriate protection and facilities.
2.
Shortly after noon there was considerable bombing in the Kwanghua Gate area, some bombs apparently falling inside city, and earlier two bombs were dropped in Hsiakuan section.
3.
At urgent request of Chinese military authorities who stated Yi Chiang Gate to the Bund might close at any time, we returned to Panay at 3 p.m., after giving remaining Americans opportunity to accompany us. Prideaux-Brune of the British Embassy and London Times correspondent MacDonald accompanied us and later transferred to H. M. S. Scarab where British Embassy staff is quartered. Preparations to barricade the Gate were being made as we passed through and a wide section of Hsiakuan outside and near the wall was being fired. Just after we arrived on Panay the Pukow water front was heavily bombed, one of the smaller station buildings was hit and set afire, and three bombs fell in water opposite us. An anti-aircraft shell struck the water about 200 feet from Panay and this vessel subsequently proceeded up river about 2 miles to Sanchiaho off Asiatic Petroleum Company installation where American refugees from inside the city will proceed if they decide to leave and can do [Page 394] so. H. M. S. Scarab and Cricket now at Sanchiaho will move at 5 p.m., up river about one-half mile where Jardine hulk is lying.
4.
Repeated to Hankow, Peiping, Shanghai. Shanghai please inform Japanese authorities of position of Panay.30 Peiping repeat to Tokyo.
Atcheson
  1. This information was given the Japanese authorities December 10.↩