793.94/14291: Telegram
The Consul General at Canton (Linnell) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5 p.m.]
44. The Japanese Consul General, Katsuo Okazaki, called on me yesterday and also on other Consuls General. He stated that the Canton area was now a military zone and would be treated as such. It was the intention of the Japanese to isolate Canton completely and not attempt to rehabilitate it. Barriers and mines were being placed throughout the delta to prevent small junks et cetera from slipping through carrying information. The main channel of the Pearl River would be opened and it was thought that soon foreign war vessels would be allowed to move on giving notice of their intention as they did when the Chinese were in control.
I spoke to him of our desire to send an American boat to Hong Kong soon, probably the Standard Vacuum Oil Company tug Comet with Vice Consul Espy, certain United States Navy personnel and other Americans on board and he intimated that this might be arranged directly with the rear admiral in charge here; accordingly Captain Stapler, commander South China Patrol United States Navy, has made an appointment to call upon the rear admiral November 5 when the matter will be discussed.
Japanese authorities here will give no information concerning present disposition of troops or places where fighting is in progress but movements of Japanese troops and supplies continue thru Canton to the north along the line of the Canton-Hankow Railway and west toward Samshui.
[Page 526]A large number of transport vessels came to Canton yesterday loaded chiefly with supplies and some of them went on up the river toward Chungfa.
Repeated to Peiping, Chungking, Hong Kong.