893.48/1406: Telegram
The Third Secretary of Embassy in China (Allison) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:22 p.m.]
33. In common with British and German colleagues I have received the Chairman of the International Committee for the Nanking safety [Page 50] zone, a German subject, outlining difficulties which the Japanese Army has raised with regard to the feeding of approximately 250,000 Chinese refugees now in Nanking.
The International Committee has been distributing rice and flour free to those who could not pay for it and selling it at a low price to those who could. Since the morning of January 10th the Japanese Army has forced them to stop sales and has said that all distribution of rice and flour must be made through local Chinese Autonomous Committee in cooperation with the Japanese Army. Between December 13th, when the Japanese occupied the city, and January 19th, the army had only assigned 2,200 bags of rice and 1,000 bags of flour for sale to the civilian population. Permission has been refused the International Committee by the army, either to bring in rice and wheat previously purchased and now outside the city walls, or to have foodstuffs shipped up from Shanghai.
It is estimated by responsible American members of the International Committee that a regular supply of 1,600 bags of rice a day is needed adequately to feed the Chinese population. At present the Japanese authorities are allowing only approximately 1,000 bags a week to be distributed. A supply of at least 40 tons of coal a day is also said to be needed and at present none whatever is being sold commercially. It is understood that adequate supplies of foodstuffs and coal are available and the action of the Japanese is therefore difficult to understand.
While the situation has not yet become serious, due to stocks already on hand in private families, it may easily become so at any moment. The International Committee is feeding, without charge, 50,000 persons a day but its stocks are running low. If sufficient food and fuel is not provided for these Chinese refugees it is quite possible that riots may occur with consequent danger to foreign lives and property.
Quite apart from the humanitarian aspect of the matter it would appear that the possible danger to American interests ensuing as a result of this slow starvation of thousands of Chinese might be sufficient grounds for this Office to take up the question with the Japanese authorities. My British colleague states that he does not wish to take precipitate action, while my German colleague, who has been taking an extremely strong stand with the Japanese regarding the inhuman activities of their troops, is willing to approach them at once. The opinion of the Ambassador in this regard would be appreciated.
Sent to Embassy, Hankow. Repeated to Peiping, Shanghai; Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo.