793.94/11791: Telegram
The Commander in Chief of the United States Asiatic Fleet (Yarnell) to the Chief of Naval Operations (Leahy)25
[Received 9:45 p.m.]
0024. Following letter dated 21 December received from Commander in Chief Japanese Fleet in China: [Page 472]
“Admiral H. E. Yarnell, Commander in Chief United States Asiatic Fleet. My Dear Admiral: I have the pleasure of informing you that, in conjunction with the arrangement recently made for the passage down the Yangtze River to Shanghai of H. M. S. Capetown and Italian ship Sandro Sandri, the Japanese Navy is happy to render assistance to vessels of the third powers which are desirous of proceeding down stream from the upper reaches of Nanking to Shanghai under the following understanding: (1) Eight vessels will make one group and with our convoy proceed down once in every 2 or 3 days, (2) vessels will come down at their own risk. In this connection, I wish to make it clearly understood that since the above mentioned arrangement is being made temporary on the occasion of the passage of the two, British and Italian, warships, it is not to be considered by this that the Yangtze River is opened for free navigation. Moreover, in view of the fact that minesweeping operations as well as mopping up operations of the scattered Chinese troops are still going on along the river, it is the desire of the Japanese Navy that foreign vessels including warships will refrain from navigating the Yangtze except when clear understanding is reached with us.
I am, my dear Admiral, yours sincerely, Kiyoshi Hasegawa, Vice Admiral, Commander in Chief Imperial Japanese China Sea Fleet.”
The following letter dated 23 December sent in reply:
“Dear Admiral: We have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 21 December on the subject of navigation of the Yangtze River and wish to thank you for your assurance of the assistance of the Japanese Navy in convoying our shipping down river. We agree that such movements must be undertaken at the risk of the vessels themselves.
We agree that notification of the movement of all merchant shipping in the danger areas is necessary at present though we naturally hope for greater freedom as soon as the dangers are removed in accordance with our treaty rights.
With regards to the movement of warships we will of course notify the Japanese authorities on the river of intended movement whenever practicable and will in any case be particular to give information of any intended movements through the Kiangyin barrier for the present. We cannot, however, accept the restriction suggested by your letter that foreign men-of-war cannot move freely on the river without prior arrangement with the Japanese and we must reserve the right to move these ships whenever necessary without notification.
We have the honor to be, Sir, very sincerely yours, H. E. Yarnell, Admiral United States Navy, Commander in Chief United States Asiatic Fleet, Le Bigot, Vice Admiral in Chief, French naval forces in the Far East, Alberto da Zara, Capitano di Vascello, Commandante Superiore Navale in E. O., J. G. L. Dunbas, Captain H. M. S. Folkestone, Senior British naval officer present.[”]
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Navy Department.↩