Office of the Historian

893.102S/1885: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss)

Washington, September 15, 1939—6 p.m.

347. Your 819, September 14, 5 p.m., and Department’s 343, September 13, 6 p.m.78 Regardless whether the British and the French, in the light of the Japanese Government’s “advice” or demands that they withdraw their ships and armed forces from points in China,79 decide to withdraw their armed forces ashore at Shanghai, it is the estimate of this Government that the United States force now ashore at Shanghai should and will remain there.

In regard to the Japanese suggestion that the defense plan needs revision, we of course are willing to participate in orderly discussion of reasonable proposals and note from your telegram under reference that the commandants agreed yesterday to refer the Japanese suggestion to a committee of staff officers for study.

Please continue to keep the Department promptly informed of developments.

Please inform the Commander in Chief of the foregoing as strictly confidential information for himself only, for purposes of guidance.

Hull
  1. Latter not printed.↩
  2. See telegram No. 458, September 5, 7 p.m., from the Chargé in Japan, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, p. 9.↩