793.94/12081: Telegram

The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State

73. Following from American Embassy at Tokyo:

“January 13, 4 p.m. Your 57, January 7, 11 p.m., and previous. Area free from attack at Hankow.

Japanese Foreign Office has informed this Embassy as follows:

‘Japanese forces will not attack the said area if no Chinese forces are within it, if Chinese forces make no military use whatever of it and if the movements of Japanese forces outside the area are not hindered from within it.

It is to he noted that by the riverfront of the area is understood only the river bank itself, not extending either to the line in the middle of the river or to the opposite shore.’

Please repeat Peiping, Hankow, and Department. Grew.[”]

Gauss