893.102S/2571
The Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs to the American Embassy in China 19
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents its compliments to the American Embassy and, with reference to the matter of the protection of the Second Branch of the Kiangsu High Court and the First Special District Court in Shanghai, has the honor to refer to the Ministry’s third-person note of July 10,20 which no doubt reached the Embassy.
The Ministry has received a report that the Japanese and puppets at Shanghai are actively scheming to take advantage of the forthcoming withdrawal of the American garrison to seize the above courts.
The Chinese Government is very grateful for the energetic protection afforded these courts by the American forces during the recent [Page 873] years. It is reported that after these forces are withdrawn,21 their posts and protective duties will be taken over by the Shanghai Volunteer Corps. The Ministry requests the Embassy to telegraph the authorities of the International Settlement at Shanghai to station as large a number as possible of the Volunteer Corps at the Courts mentioned, reenforcing their effective protection, in order that the officials may carry on their duties in peace of mind and the foreign and Chinese inhabitants of the Settlement likewise receive the just protection of the law.
In addition to addressing a separate communication to the British Embassy, the Ministry has the honor to indite this third-person note for the information and action of the Embassy. The courtesy of a reply is also requested.
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in China (Gauss) in his despatch No. 227, November 27; received February 21, 1942.↩
- For substance of this note as reported to the Department by the Ambassador in China in his telegram No. 302, July 17, 5 p.m., see p. 867.↩
- For correspondence regarding the withdrawal of United States forces from China, see pp. 554 ff.↩