893.50 Recovery/5–1849: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cabot) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 18—12:34 p. m.]
1706. For Lapham. I trust ECA will try prevent diversions of food and oil cargoes until it is clear Whangpoo has been irremediably closed even to lighters. While I do not expect Nationalists will hold Shanghai for very long, it seems to me vital in fairness to them and our commitments not to divert cargoes until they clearly cannot enter Shanghai. As you know, authorized 30-day stockpile has by no means been attained either for rice or oil and each day siege continues means just 1 day’s less margin from disaster after Communists enter.
Sent Canton 484; repeated Department 1706; Nanking 943.