393.1115/3040: Telegram
The Third Secretary of Embassy in China (Allison) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 30—7 a.m.]
87. Department’s 225, March 23, 7 p.m., to Shanghai. During the past 10 days an effort has been made to make arrangements for 2 doctors and 2 nurses to come to Nanking from Shanghai as well as for American citizens in Nanking to make business trips to Shanghai and return, but with little success. I was informed this morning by the Japanese Consul General that the Japanese military authorities in Shanghai, with whom the matter had been taken up, stated that for the time being they did not consider it advisable for foreigners to come to Nanking. The Japanese military take the stand that if anything should happen to foreigners in Nanking they would be morally responsible and they do not wish to take a risk. As for Americans already in Nanking desiring to make visits to Shanghai and return, it was said that this would probably be possible soon but no definite date was set when such trips could be made.
It is believed that no progress can be made in this matter locally and that it will be necessary to press the matter in Shanghai and Tokyo if anything is to be accomplished. The following facts, all of which have been brought to the attention of the local Japanese authorities, are presented for possible use in any representations which may be made.
[Page 300]According to the Japanese Consul General himself, there are at present approximately 600 Japanese citizens in Nanking. This number, which is believed to be far greater than before the opening of hostilities, includes a considerable number of women and children. There are at least 13 shops of various kinds in Nanking operated by Japanese, which sell to Chinese and foreigners and cannot be classified as shops for military purposes. Announcements and price lists of these shops have been printed from time to time in the small local newspaper which is published through arrangement with the special section of the Japanese Army. Japanese ships make trips from Shanghai to Nanking every 5 days and while the Japanese authorities claim these ships only bring military supplies it has been noticed that supplies for these various shops mentioned above are sometimes included in the cargo and it is known that Japanese and some Chinese civilians have made trips back and forth in these ships. Japanese and Chinese civilians now also make trips to Shanghai from time to time in the military train which now makes daily runs between the two cities. One Japanese trucking company alone has 40 trucks operating on the road between here and Shanghai.
It would appear from the above that there is ground for the belief that discrimination is being shown and that American and other foreign rights and interests are not being given the consideration promised in the various statements in the Diet made by the Japanese Premier and Foreign Minister. With regard to the Japanese claim that Nanking is still dangerous it should be pointed out that while Chinese air raids have taken place from time to time, the Chinese have scrupulously avoided flying over the center of the city and few if any foreigners have seen even a single Chinese plane. Order within the city has greatly improved and the danger to foreigners, if any, is extremely slight.
Sent to Embassy, Hankow. Repeated to Peiping and Shanghai. Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo.