793.94/14094: Telegram
The Consul General at Hong Kong (Southard) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 17—7 a.m.]
I have just talked with my Japanese colleague who assures me that the Japanese forces are about to enter Pingwu on the Hong Kong–Canton Railway. He also says that he thinks there is no intention of landing strong Japanese forces from Pearl River in west Kwangtung because forces from Bias Bay will easily reach Pearl River in a day or so. He also has told me that he has by authorization of his Government offered Hong Kong Government to arrange for Japanese merchants in Formosa to supply this colony with vegetables and other foodstuffs in case of shortage but that local government has not yet accepted. He says Formosa has plenty of food supplies to spare. My colleague telegraphed his Government at the request of Bishop of Hong Kong and associated religious representatives for delimitation of neutral zone for refugees along the railway just over the Hong Kong frontier and has had “tacit consent” from Tokyo which he has communicated to the Bishop here. My colleague very confidentially says he knows that there are a number of influential Cantonese who are willing to treat with the Japanese and that some approaches have been made but certain individuals among them are not entirely trusted and that accordingly no negotiations have been definitely entered into.
Repeated to Chungking, Peiping.