793.94/16541: Telegram
The Consul General at Hankow (Spiker) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 29—9:30 a.m.]
25. The Japanese Navy and Army spokesman here told the press on March 26 that for military reasons the Yangtze River will be closed to travel by foreigners between Hankow and Shanghai in both directions for a period of from 4 to 6 weeks or more. The Kokoku Maru which left for Shanghai this morning and the Hsinyo Maru, due from Shanghai April 3 are to be the last vessels carrying foreign passengers until the end of this closed period. Eight Americans left by the Kokoku. Applications for passage of six others are pending.
2. There remains in this Consular District 145 Americans, of whom 20 are merchants (18 men and 2 children), 68 Protestant missionaries (23 men, 31 women and 14 children) and 57 Roman Catholic missionaries (22 men and 35 women).
Sent to the Department. Repeated to Peiping, Chungking and Shanghai.