102.22/7–649: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cabot) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 6—11:48 a. m.]
2639. ReConGentel to Department 2638 [2628], July 6, repeated Nanking 1453. At 4 called Foreign Affairs Bureau which claimed no one there with authority to take any action. Called police who promptly said they would send a patrol but as I write at 7 they have not shown up. They claim patrol sent; although conceivably it has been blocked by parade now going on. I believe we are merely getting the run around. I have sent Stelle88 to police station to make representations on basis of Mao Tse-tung’s eighth point.89
At 6 a large group headed by me attempted to leave building. Gates were forcibly held against us and at 8 we are still unable leave building. Although I think we could probably break through, I have taken every precaution against violence on our part.
In brief talk at gate, I made it clear that under no circumstances would we talk under threat of violence. We have given facts of case to press to avoid inaccuracies but I think comments should be withheld till we are entirely satisfied that authorities will not intervene.
Sent Department 2639; repeated Nanking 1461.