893.102S/2088: Telegram

The Consul at Shanghai (Butrick) to the Secretary of State

545. Department’s 201, June 14 [13], 1 p.m. to Tokyo. Spokesman of Japanese Embassy at Shanghai is quoted as making following statements, inter alia, yesterday to press.

[Page 745]

Congratulating Germany on its victory and expressing sympathy for France, he observed, “Herr Hitler said the other day to an International News Service man ‘America for the Americans, and Europe for the Europeans.’ I agree with him and I also believe in ‘Asia for the Asiatics’—that is to say, that questions relating to Asia should be settled by Asiatic peoples. And Japan will not slacken her attacks on Chungking until she achieves her objective in this China incident.”

Questioned regarding current rumors, the spokesman said that Japan would take no action against the foreign areas in Shanghai, “barring an extraordinary, grave change in the situation. However, the Japanese forces occupy the areas surrounding the foreign areas and have responsibility for the maintenance of peace and order in the Shanghai District, and we are naturally concerned over the peace and order of the town. We have some requirements in this connection; for instance, that the Settlement and Concession authorities exercise strict control over terroristic activities in their areas is one of these requirements. It is also a matter of our special concern that Chinese and English language newspapers and other publications in the Settlement and Concession sometimes give a false impression to Shanghailanders in general by publishing rumors without foundation or by making unwarranted attacks on Japan. We believe that the third power authorities should pay adequate attention to the control of the press.”

Asked about Mayor Fu Siao En’s statement demanding the withdrawal from Shanghai of the armed forces of the belligerent powers, the spokesman refused to comment on the statement itself but said, “The policy of Japan has already been announced by our government. When a state declares war, there can be but neutral and belligerent powers in the world and according to the well-established rules of international law the armed forces and warships of the belligerent powers are not allowed to stay within the territory of a neutral power.” (Mayor’s statement being mailed92).

Repeated to Peiping, Chungking. Air mail to Tokyo.

Butrick
  1. Not printed.