793.94/11553: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:53 p.m.]
1123. I have now received from Senior Consul full text of notification mentioned in my 1114, December 8, 5 p.m. It follows:
“In view of the imminent danger of the area in and around Nanking becoming directly involved in very severe and extensive fighting between the Japanese and the Chinese forces, I have the honor to inform you, for transmission to the interested colleagues, that it is the earnest wish on the part of the Japanese forces that all the foreign nationals now remaining in Nanking will stay away, as much as possible, from the zone of actual fighting by evacuation from that city without delay. This request is urgently made with a view to preventing any foreigner from becoming involved in the dangers of hostilities which may extend to that city at any moment, and I shall be grateful if you will kindly transmit, at your earliest convenience, the present information to the interested colleagues in order that necessary steps may be taken by them.”
The Senior Consul has today circulated the following letter of today’s date received by him:
“I have the honor to enclose herewith a copy of the writing stating the intention of the Imperial Japanese forces regarding the security of foreign ships and vehicles to be found in and around the zone of fighting in the Yangtze Valley and shall be grateful if you will kindly take immediate steps to bring it to the notice of the interested parties through our honorable colleagues. I have the honor to be, etc., (signed) Suemasa Okamoto, Japanese Consul General.
- (1)
- The Imperial Japanese forces, firmly subscribing to the principle of respecting the rights and interests of the Third Powers, have so often found themselves during the present conflict in a trying predicament when carrying out military operations against Chinese troops, who had deliberately established military works and structures [Page 396] in the close vicinity of the interests of the Third Powers or tried to engage Japanese troops in such a way or in such a district as might easily involve the interests of the Third Powers in the hostilities.
- (2)
- In view of the hostilities spreading all over the Yangtze Valley, the Imperial Japanese forces sincerely hope that the Third Powers will ungrudgingly cooperate in the efforts of the Imperial Japanese forces, not to cause molestation to the interests of the Third Powers, by keeping or removing their ships and vehicles, government owned or otherwise, as far away as possible from Chinese troops, either stationary or moving, and Chinese military establishments or, if possible, by taking them entirely out of the zone of fighting.
- (3)
- It goes without saying that under any circumstances the Imperial Japanese forces will do their utmost to respect foreign ships and vehicles to be found in and around the zone of fighting but in case no cooperation is forthcoming from the Third Powers, or their nationals in such a way as is suggested in the preceding paragraphs, the Japanese forces are not in a position to ensure the security of such ships and vehicles and cannot be held responsible for whatever consequences that may involve them.”
For the Ambassador. I have this evening received a letter direct from the Japanese Consul General enclosing a copy of the statement issued by the Imperial Japanese forces as given above and requesting on behalf of the Japanese Ambassador that it be conveyed to the American Ambassador and adding that Mr. Kawagoe would very much appreciate it if the American Ambassador would circulate the statement among the interested Heads of Missions.
Sent to Department. Repeated to Hankow, Nanking, and Peiping.