893.00/5–1949: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cabot) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 19—9:41 a. m.]
1724. At special Consular body meeting last night Swiss Consul General as Senior Consul proposed he be designated by Consular body to offer his services as intermediary to arrange local settlement of battle for Shanghai. Pursuant to Department’s instructions (Deptel 918, May 12), I made it clear I could not associate myself with any such action. Further discussion having revealed obvious flaws in proposal, Consular body eventually authorized Swiss Consul General to explore possibilities with local authorities of preventing fighting [Page 335] within city in order prevent losses of foreign lives and property. Canadian Consul General and I, having made our position clear in the minutes, abstained from voting. All other Consular representatives agreed; no Russian representative present.
Repeated Nanking 958, OffEmb Canton 492.