811.30 Asiatic Fleet/825: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Consul General at Shanghai (Lockhart)
478. Your 1055, November 30, 4 p.m.
- 1.
- The Department understands that the trucks in question have
been in transit via Nanning but is not informed as to what
alterations will be made in the arrangements for their operation
as a result of the Japanese capture of that city. If the
American naval authorities desire to continue the operation of
the trucks on some other route such as the highway between
Yunnanfu and Chungking, it is suggested that, in view of the
official character of the trucks, the personnel operating or
using them for transportation, and of the articles carried by
them, it would be appropriate for you to address a reply to the
Japanese Consul General substantially as follows:
As other means of transportation are not available, the continued operation of the trucks to and from Chungking is, of course, necessary for the transportation of American diplomatic and naval supplies and naval personnel. Furthermore, as the Japanese authorities have been repeatedly informed, the Government of the United States holds the view that obligation rests upon the Japanese naval and military authorities to exert the utmost precaution to the end that American nationals and property shall not be injured by Japanese military operations. If and when American nationals or property are injured in consequence of the operations of Japanese armed forces, the American Government will be compelled to attribute to the Japanese Government responsibility therefor. The statements in your letter that Japanese naval units have been ordered “to pay full attention to the American navy trucks in question” and that the Japanese naval units “are more than eager to exercise every possible care” have been noted with gratification.
- 2.
- Please consult with Rear Admiral Glassford in this matter and, if the American naval authorities desire the trucks to continue to operate over a suitable route and, if you and he perceive no objection to the new routing or to a reply as suggested above, communicate the reply to the Japanese Consul General together with a statement as to the specific route now to be taken by the trucks.
Sent to Shanghai. Repeated to Chungking and Peiping. Shanghai please repeat to Tokyo.