393.1115/2979: Telegram
The Third Secretary of Embassy in China (Allison) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 15—1:05 p.m.]
76. Shanghai’s 390, March 14, 2 p.m. With regard to paragraph 4 of Shanghai’s telegram under reference it should be reported that in an informal conversation with a Japanese official yesterday I mentioned the matter of Americans returning to Nanking and stated that I believed a good impression would be created if the Japanese would announce that foreigners who had formerly lived or had business interests in Nanking would be permitted to return. This official agreed but stated that at present there were 2 objections: First, the local military authorities are very sensitive to criticism and have been much disturbed at reports which have been sent abroad by Nanking foreigners as to conditions here and they therefore hesitate to allow any more foreigners to come to the city; second, from a purely military viewpoint it is believed that conditions are not yet such as to permit of foreigners returning. It was stated that the Japanese must take Hankow before foreigners can be permitted freely to return to Nanking and normal shipping services resumed on the Yangtze. I pointed out that Americans had a right to live in China and that the American Government had not admitted the right of the Japanese to prevent Americans returning to their homes here but that up to the present there had been no desire to make an issue of the matter. I added that it might soon be necessary to do so, however, and that in view of Japan’s oft stated friendship for the United States and the recent statements in the Japanese Diet by Foreign Minister Hirota that foreign rights and interests were to be respected, I hoped that no impediment would be placed in the way of Americans returning in the not too distant future.
Sent to Embassy, Hankow. Repeated to Peiping and Shanghai. Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo. If Shanghai’s 390 has not been repeated to Tokyo, I suggest that they do so.