393.1115/3440: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:20 p.m.]
1026. I have received this afternoon a letter dated July 21 addressed to the Ambassador by Masayuki Tani, Japanese Minister at Large, reading as follows:
“I have the honor to draw Your Excellency’s attention to the fact that the Chinese have been transporting munitions of war from Canton to Hankow by increasing numbers of freight cars connected to passenger trains carrying nationals of third powers. While the Japanese forces feel constricted [constrained?] to stop by aerial bombing or some other means such transportation of Chinese war supplies, the Japanese Government are ardently desirous of avoiding incidental losses and damages being caused to third powers’ nationals. Therefore, I am instructed to request Your Excellency to see your way to make necessary representations at the Hankow Government so that they will completely refrain from connecting freight cars to passenger trains.
It is further hoped that third power nationals desirous of travelling by train in either direction between Canton and Hankow will make a trip in groups, as far as possible, in a special train not connected with freight cars, and that notice will be given sufficient time in advance to [Page 415] the Japanese authorities concerned as to such particulars as the time of departure of the train.
As these requests are necessitated on the one hand by the unscrupulous use by Chinese of passenger trains for conveying war supplies and on the other hand emanate from the earnest wishes of the Japanese Government to assure the safety of third power nationals, I earnestly hope that Your Excellency will give favorable consideration to them.”
Sent to Hankow. Repeated to Tokyo. Repeated to Chefoo for Commander in Chief.