393.1115/3090: Telegram
The Third Secretary of Embassy in China (Allison) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 15—9:35 a.m.]
93. An article appearing in yesterday’s issue of the Nanking Min Pao states that according to information received from the Japanese Consulate General the number of Japanese residents in Nanking on March 31st was 810, there being 420 males and 390 females. As statement was also made regarding the types of business engaged in by the Japanese which shows there are 45 different occupations including following: flour mill, architect, theater, insurance, printing, electrical supplies, photographic supplies, physicians, transportation, pharmacist, foodstuff supplies, hotel, restaurant, tea shops, wine and spirits dealers, and toilet supplies.
While restrictions on movements of foreigners in this area are being loosened to some extent, as evidenced by Shanghai’s 536, April 14, 9 a.m.,2 and the fact that a German journalist is coming to Nanking this evening from Shanghai, there is no indication that foreign businessmen in general will be permitted to return either to close up former activities no longer profitable or to resume business. It is believed that unless some special stand is taken, by the time American and other foreign businessmen are allowed to return, they will find their former fields of activity taken over, for the most part, by Japanese.
Sent to Hankow, Peiping and Shanghai. Peiping please forward by courier to Tokyo.
- Not printed.↩