793.94/14459: Telegram
The Consul General at Canton (Myers) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:05 p.m.]
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The British gunboat Cicala on November 2 proceeded from Canton to Kongmoon despite refusal of permission by Japanese authorities. On November 7 the Japanese indicated that foreign naval vessels might navigate the Pearl River between Canton and Hong Kong as from November 10. Under this authorization other vessels have been allowed as naval auxiliaries to carry foreign passengers and relief supplies but the Pearl River remains closed to commercial traffic.
On November 1 the Japanese military seized control of the customs cruisers off Shameen. On November 9 Japanese consular and military officers went about the Canton customshouse and informed the acting commissioner that they were taking over the Chinese Maritime Customs as from 2 p.m. that day; that the customs staff were not to perform their duties outside the customshouse without agreement with the Japanese authorities but that they might continue their duties [Page 549] inside the customshouse; that the Japanese authorities were to be given access to necessary documents when required; and that no funds were to be transferred to the Inspector General without their consent.
A number of cases [are reported?] of violation of American rights by Japanese soldiers [who?] looted the home of an American citizen and so far no satisfactory answer has been made to this office’s protests. On November 7 Japanese soldiers broke into the Wallace Harper garage and took an American-owned car which has not yet been returned. On November 9 Japanese soldiers broke into and occupied the clearly marked American property of the Swedish-American Mission. In response to protests from this office they evacuated on November 4 [sic]. Early in the month property of the National City Bank was similarly occupied. Despite promises to do so, the Japanese military have not yet completely evacuated the property. Protests were also made against denial of freedom of movement of American missionaries in Tungshan, against the beating of a coolie of the American-owned Canton Hospital and number of other minor cases.
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