893.102 Tientsin/691: Telegram
The Consul at Tientsin (Fletcher) to the Secretary of State
[Received 2:25 p.m.]
97. Barriers surrounding foreign Concessions in Tientsin removed at 6 p.m. yesterday and pedestrian and vehicular traffic moved freely thereafter. Although Japanese sentries were not at their usual posts, Japanese soldiers remain, reputedly to ascertain the volume of traffic during coming week.
Restrictions on river traffic are also understood to have been removed, vessels no longer being required to stop for Japanese military inspection at Dairen Kisen Kaisha wharf. Details of British municipal [Page 858] police inspection of ship’s passengers and crews at Concession wharves have not yet been worked out and at present such inspection is waived.
Unidentified sources state that Federal Reserve Bank will occupy its present quarters (formerly in the blockaded area) in the first special area beginning June 24th.
Repeated to Chungking, Peiping. Air mail to Tokyo.