Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, The Far East, Volume III

893.515/1435: Telegram

The Consul at Chefoo (Roberts) to the Secretary of State

Chefoo, September 2, 1939—3 p.m.
[Received September 2—noon.]

1. Japanese naval authorities yesterday in call at British Consulate with Manager of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and requested that the British bank discontinue dealing in Chinese national currency. Upon British Consul refusing, the Japanese naval officer said Bank would be picketed to stop the use of Chinese national currency.

2. Several Japanese sentries, one Chinese police in uniform and one Chinese plain clothes policeman this morning began picketing the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation searching all persons including women leaving the bank for Chinese national currency.

Sent to Peiping. Repeated to Chungking.

Roberts