393.1164 University of Shanghai/21
Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Ballantine) of a Conversation With the Counselor of the Japanese Embassy (Suma)
Mr. Suma referred to Mr. Ballantine’s conversation with him of April 187 in regard to the question of the vacating by the Japanese military of the property of the University of Shanghai. Mr. Suma said that following that conversation the Embassy had telegraphed [Page 314] the Foreign Office and urged, in view of the wide interest throughout this country in the University, that this matter be given prompt attention. Mr. Suma said that a reply had now been received from the Foreign Office to the effect that it had taken this matter up with the military authorities, who indicated to the Foreign Office that the Japanese army desired to purchase the property belonging to the University and were taking up the matter with the American representatives of the University at Shanghai. Mr. Ballantine expressed surprise and said that he had not heard of such an approach by the Japanese military authorities to the representatives of the mission and he would therefore make inquiries regarding this point. He asked Mr. Suma, however, whether in the event that the mission did not wish to sell the Japanese military authorities would vacate the property. Mr. Suma did not have any comments to make on this point. Mr. Suma said, however, in this general connection that the Japanese military had indicated that they would vacate by the end of May the property belonging to a Baptist mission school near Chapei.
- Memorandum of conversation not printed.↩