893.102S/2192: Telegram
The Consul at Shanghai (Butrick) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 18—3:22 a.m.]
795. The British and American members of the Shanghai Municipal Council addressed a letter to Admiral Hart today stating that they consider the Japanese proposal that the Shanghai Volunteer Corps take over Sector B (from which British will withdraw their guards on the 20th) would have the most serious consequences and would in effect mean handing over that vital area of the Settlement to the Japanese and that furthermore they are of the opinion that the Shanghai Volunteer Corps is not a suitable body to hold a sector permanently.
Admiral Hart and I agree that such danger does exist and believe that all expedient pressure should be exerted on Tokyo to accept the compromise proposal approved by the Council—that is, Sector D to the Japanese and Sector B to the Marines.
Please inform the Navy Department.