793.94/14237: Telegram
The Consul General at Canton (Linnell) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 30—1:45 p.m.]
34. Japanese Rear Admiral T. Sugikara arrived at Canton today on mine sweeper 18 and sent an officer to call on Captain Stapler on the U. S. S. Mindanao, on the British senior naval officer and the captain commanding the French gunboat Argus. The Japanese officer stated that no movements of vessels could be permitted at this time and the British gunboat Cicala was specifically refused permission to proceed to Kongmoon.
The new Japanese commander of gendarmerie for Canton, Colonel Hayashi, today informed the Consul General of Great Britain that the Refugee Committee would not be permitted to take from godowns at Fati any more of the rice which the bishopric of Hong Kong had purchased on October 18th from Chinese merchants. Colonel Hayashi said that the question of the ownership of this rice had been referred to Tokyo and if it was found that title was properly transferred to the bishopric at Hong Kong it would be paid for but the rice was needed for the Japanese troops.
This decision makes the problem of obtaining food for the refugees more precarious and it is understood that there is rice in the hands of the Committee to feed the present number of refugees only about 2 weeks. The refugees are rapidly increasing in number as incidents of shooting and rape occur in the villages and the women and children come to the refugee camps.
It is believed that it will be necessary to buy rice in Hong Kong or elsewhere outside China and bring it here soon. Arrangements to safeguard the rice will of course have to be made with the Japanese and more funds will be needed by the Refugee Committee to pay for it.
Repeated to Chungking, Peiping, Hong Kong.