893.00/5–3148: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cabot) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 31—5:17 a. m.]
1222. In view of anti-American demonstrations at Shanghai universities and colleges planned for the day in observance May 30 incident, I took occasion during my Memorial Day address to direct attention of students participating in campaign to sinister propaganda being used by forces contriving to estrange Chinese and Americans. I emphasized points in our Japan program upon which they were being completely and deliberately misinformed, following much same line adopted in my address before Sino-American group on April 30 which has been reported to Department.79 Following are pertinent excerpts from my address, full text of which is being airmailed:80
“It was ever tyranny’s aim to divide and conquer. It was ever tyranny’s method to dominate by ignorance and falsehood—let us not forget that is precisely what the malevolent forces abroad in the world today are seeking. They would have us forget the honored dead—American and Chinese—who fell destroying the Japanese and Nazi tyrannies. To impose their tyranny on the world these forces would set Chinese youth against American, and American against Chinese. Towards the Chinese students who have lent themselves to this misguided campaign we must feel not malice but charity.”
Address was given exceptionally wide coverage in local Chinese press on 31st. Chung Tang Jih Pao, official Kuomintang organ, General Ku Chu-tung’s Chien Sien Jih Pao, and influential Sin Wen Pao (CC Clique) carried full text prominently displayed. Other important papers quoting speech in part were Catholic Yi Shih Pao, Shun Pao (CC), local Kuomintang organ Cheng Yien Pao, Army Kuomintang Ho Ping Jih Pao and Tung Nan Jih Pao (Kuomintang Southeast China organ). Ta Kung Pao, whose consistent and violent attacks upon American policy have been reported in detail to Department, made no mention of address or of American memorial services held in Shanghai.
Sent Department 1222; repeated Nanking 979.