102.22/7–649: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cabot) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 6—1:35 p. m.]
2628. Group of ex-Navy employees have been at entrances to Glen Line Building since noon. They have demanded that we receive large delegation, which we have refused. We have offered to admit not more than 4 but have pointed out that in absence of lists from Navy there is nothing more we can tell them at moment. Ex-employees are evidently mobilized in teams of 25–50 to maintain continuous watch. We have simply closed gates and waited, so it not yet clear whether they would offer violence to Americans seeking to enter or leave. We believe, however, they would try to rush the building if we opened gates. After waiting 2 hours to see whether authorities would act spontaneously, we phoned Foreign Affairs Bureau to inform them of what was happening. I propose if action taken in meantime to phone FAB at 4 p. m. informing them American [and] Chinese employees leaving building at 4:30 p. m. and we trust authority will prevent violence. [Page 1198] I do not wish to use exit recently built through British compound for fear of getting them involved, but will if necessary.
Sent Department 2628, repeated Nanking 1453.