393.115 Hunt and Company, William/81: Telegram
The Consul General at Canton (Linnell) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 11—7 a.m.]
56. Reference is made to my 47 of November 5 and 54 of November 10.40 I have now to report that the looting of the godown by Chinese [Page 533] continued up to this morning, when Consul General Okazaki called on me and said that the Japanese naval authorities had noted the looting, entered the godown and found 2 dead Chinese and 2 wounded. He said the Japanese authorities claimed the right to take over the property as belonging to China Merchants Steam Navigation Company and that the naval authorities were anxious to do this at once but did not want to interfere with the American flag flying over it without consultation with American authorities. He said however that the Japanese Navy intended immediately to place a guard on the property to prevent further looting and agreed with me to have representatives of the American Consulate General, the American Navy and the Japanese Navy go together to the property to inspect and note the present condition of the property and contents. This is being arranged.
A boat from the Mindanao went to the property today and sent a wounded Chinese to the hospital and is guarding the property pending its occupation by a Japanese naval guard.
I would ask that instructions in this matter be sent me as soon as possible.
Repeated to Chungking, Peiping and Hong Kong.
- Latter not printed.↩