793.94/11919: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 31—3:20 p.m.]
1259. Following from the Ambassador:
December 31, 12 noon. Your December 30, 11 a.m. Will you communicate following to Japanese Ambassador as from me:
“My Dear Colleague: In view of recent unfortunate incidents growing out of the present hostilities being waged in the Yangtze Valley and with a view to the prevention of any similar situation developing should these hostilities be extended to include the Wuhan area in which the city of Hankow is located, I desire to bring to your attention the fact that the area covered by the former British, Russian and German Concessions and the present French Concession at Hankow, and including Butterfield and Swire’s property adjoining the Customs House, includes the bulk of foreign owned and occupied property here at Hankow. In this area are located the Consulates of the foreign powers; in the river off this area are concentrated foreign naval vessels and foreign flag river shipping. In this area also will be found, not only most of the permanent American and foreign residents, but also many American and foreign refugees from other parts of China unable to leave or be concentrated at any other place.
It is my confident hope that in the unhappy event that military operations should extend to this area the military forces—land, naval and air—of your country would refrain from action which would jeopardize the lives and property in this area of Americans as well as of other foreigners. I am, my dear colleague,”.
Please repeat to Tokyo. Johnson.