124.932/565: Telegram
The Third Secretary of Embassy in China (Allison) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:15 p.m.]
34. Last night at about 8:30 p.m., three Japanese broke into one of the Embassy garages now being occupied by families of some of the Embassy police and while one of them made off with the sister of one of the policemen the other two remained behind and endeavored to prevent the Chinese from giving the alarm. However, I was informed that something was wrong and with Vice Consul Espy I went to the police and found the two Japanese there. At the time we did not know that a girl had been taken; as the two Japanese left when foreigners were sighted, no attempt was made to hold them. One of the men had on naval uniform and carried a large pistol while the other was a civilian dressed in the type of uniform usually worn by Young Men’s Christian Associations in Japan. While we were preparing to go in search of the girl she returned saying that the two Japanese we had seen had caught up with her just as she was about to be placed in a car and driven away, and they had persuaded the first man to release her because she worked for foreigners. It was obvious that these Japanese did not know they were on Embassy property but this is no excuse. While fortunately this incident did not result in any serious damage to persons or property it would have done so if foreigners had not been on the spot and it is typical of what is going on in Nanking despite the assurances of the Japanese authorities that efforts are being made to prevent such occurrences. It should be pointed out that the Embassy is well within the so-called safety zone into which none but authorized Japanese soldiers are supposed to enter and that the garage which was entered is within 200 yards of a gendarme station. It is several miles from the bund district controlled by the navy, thus there is no understandable reason to think an armed [Page 248] naval enlisted man should be in the vicinity. Japanese civilians have been observed occasionally on the streets but this is the first time I have heard of one being engaged in illegal activities. However, it is perhaps significant that certain Japanese civilians are allowed to come to Nanking allegedly because needed by the army as laborers or small shopkeepers, while the military authorities have just refused the request of the University of Nanking Hospital to bring to this city two American doctors, who are urgently needed, on the ground that it is not yet safe for civilians to be here.
I called this morning on Mr. Fukui and made strong oral protest about the matter and told him I intended to report the matter at once to Washington, to Tokyo. Fukui pleaded with me not to report the matter for a few days because he was afraid it would aggravate American-Japanese relations. He again referred to the special measures being taken by the military authorities to prevent such incidents (see my 31, January 21, 4 p.m.), and assured me that if I would but wait a few days I would see a great improvement in the situation. I told Fukui it would be necessary to report the matter but I was willing that it be given no publicity for the time being. It is therefore requested that this case not be made public until a few days have elapsed and it can be seen whether or not the special measures referred to above are really effective. Prompt report will be made of any noticeable change for the better.
Repeated to Embassy [at] Hankow, Peiping and Shanghai. Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo.