893.00/4–2649: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cabot) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 28—10:21 a. m.]
1355. According to local papers April 26 Shanghai-Woosung garrison apparently making strenuous efforts thin out population Shanghai. Following decisions made at garrison meeting April 25: No residents, military or civilian, will be allowed reenter Shanghai after leaving it without resident certificates or official identification certificates effective immediately. No new resident certificates will be issued Shanghai; persons in Shanghai without resident or official identification certificates should immediately leave city voluntarily or they will be marched out; persons resisting while being marched out will be shot on spot.
Further stringent measures passed by garrison govern ship movements this area with special permits required before ships allowed enter or leave harbor, load or unload cargo or passengers. Ships failing observe rules will be fired on by garrison and, if possible, sunk.
According China Daily Tribune April 26, as war-time measure, municipal police sets up new Peace Preservation Department headed by Lt. General Huang Ping-yen of Nanking-Shanghai-Hangchow Hdqs. staff and political department. “Speedy Action Squad” also established, headed by Tsung Min, chief first section supervisory department of police bureau.
Sent Department 1355, repeated Nanking 784, Canton 333.