793.94/14139: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 22—10:15 a.m.]
Following letter dated today was received at 4:30 p.m. from Japanese Minister Tani addressed to the American Ambassador at Chungking:
I have the honor to inform you that I have been requested by the Japanese naval authorities to transmit to Your Excellency the enclosed memorandum.
The memorandum reads as follows:
[“]1. In view of the fact that Chinese troops are now crossing the Yangtze River in large numbers in the vicinity of Hankow, it is [Page 191] anticipated that it may become necessary for our forces to carry out bombing operations against them and that such bombing may be carried out even during the night.
In order to avoid the occurrence of mutually regrettable questions that might arise [through?] any unforeseen damage being suffered by neutral naval vessels and merchant men present in that neighborhood, we beg to request the authorities of the third powers concerned to warn all of their respective ships now in the vicinity of Hankow to find anchorage at a point about 10 nautical miles up stream from Hankow by midnight of 22nd October.
2. All third powers authorities are hereby requested to inform the Japanese naval authorities as to the names of all their vessels that will be anchored at the point above mentioned, as well as the names and movements of any of their vessels which may not be able, for unavoidable reasons, to move to the above mentioned anchorage by midnight of 22nd October.” Memorandum is dated today.
Sent to Chungking,52 repeated to Peiping and Hankow. Commander in Chief informed.
- In telegram No. 511, October 23, 9 a.m., the Ambassador in China reported: “Unless otherwise instructed or new situation arises I propose to file unacknowledged letter of Tani.” (793.94/14146)↩