793.94/11727
The Navy Department to the Department of State42
The following information has been received from the Commander in Chief of the Asiatic Fleet as of 14 December, 1937:
The French Ambassador [at] Shanghai has made representations to the Japanese Embassy regarding a safety concession in Hankow and I have conferred with British, French and Italian representatives on the same subject. In view of the recent incidents and the gravity of the situation I believe the safety of nationals not only in Hankow but all river ports should be taken up by Governments either individually or jointly with the Japanese Government. Incidents will probably continue until the Japanese Government impresses upon its army and navy leaders the necessity for some respect for neutral lives. A copy of your dispatch was delivered to each of the naval representatives with whom I conferred and these officers were to take the matter up with diplomatic officials.
- Received in the Department December 15.↩