793.94/14322: Telegram
The Consul General at Hankow (Josselyn) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 8—10:40 a.m.]
48. The conduct of Japanese troops in the former British Concession continues orderly. The restrictions referred to in my 39, November 3, 10 a.m., continue to be rigidly enforced.
In other sections of Hankow and Wuchang excluding the French Concession, Japanese soldiers have indulged in looting and occasional violence towards the native population. Wuchang is apparently worst affected. Wholesale pillaging had not ceased on November 4, the date of the latest message from Wuchang. Three attempts on November 1st and 2d to loot buildings of the American Church Mission Hospital and molest staff members were frustrated by the intervention of an American doctor.
Other American Church Mission properties in Wuchang all of which are housing refugees have been broken into and ransacked, but to what extent is not yet known. Caretakers of these properties have been maltreated.
The assistant chief of the Navy’s Special Service Section stated yesterday that Japanese sentries have been ordered to deny Chinese entry to the French Concession.
Repeated to Chungking, Peiping.