793.94/9492: Telegram The Commander in Chief of the United States Asiatic Fleet (Yarnell) to the Secretary of State [SHANGHAI,] August 19, 1937-1:41 p. m. [Received 7:45 p. m.] 0019. Following received from American Consul General, Shanghai: "Japanese Consul General has notified the Senior Consul that the Commander in Chief of the Third Japanese Fleet has ordered the closing of section 6, 7 and 8 of the river to Chinese vessels between 1900 and 0500 and that other vessels should notify the Japanese of their movements in advance in order to avoid any misunderstanding." Following reply made to Japanese Commander in Chief via American Consul General: "The American Naval Commander in Chief has considered the oral message received by the American Consul General from the Japanese Consul General through the Senior Consul, stating that sections 6, 7 and 8 of the Whangpoo will be closed from 1900 to 0500 daily to Chinese vessels and that other vessels should give due notice. The Commander in Chief observes that Vice Admiral Hasegawa, Japanese Commander in Chief, has not conferred with him in regard to this matter. He has guards of marines and blue jackets at properties below this area to which access is required at any time at short notice. He must also have free communication with his ships, both men-of-war and merchants at Woosung at all times of the day and night. The Commander in Chief will therefore be unable to comply with the proposal that he should notify the Japanese Commander in Chief of any movement between 1900 and 0500. In order to facilitate identification, however, he will arrange [that] any United States man-of-war, ship, boat or merchant vessel proceeding after dark will burn her navigation lights and fly her ensign or national flag as the case may be and will pass as close as practicable to the first Japanese man-of-war encountered up or down stream, reducing speed while passing her." British and French Commanders in Chief have sent identic messages. 793.94/9519: Telegram The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State NANKING, August 20, 1937-6 a. m. [Received August 19-5:55 p. m.] 474. My 470, August 19, 5 p. m.79 1. Please inform Commander-in-Chief I have communicated his 060619 to Minister of Foreign Affairs.80 I now have following reply from him to my letter of yesterday's date: 79 Not printed. So See Admiral Yarnell's telegram of August 17, 10 p. m., p. 431. "Referring to the note of today's date of His Excellency the American Ambassador, regarding the question of the disposition of American war vessels in Shanghai, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has the honor to observe that China is now engaged in a life and death struggle with Japan through the latter's repeated aggressive action and that the position taken by His Excellency conduces to the belief that Japanese war ships are allowed to take advantage of their proximity to other foreign warships to attack Chinese troops and avoid being attacked. The Chinese Government still maintains much to its regret that under the present extraordinary circumstances it is necessary for the warships and other ships of friendly powers to leave the danger zone for their own sake, and should not in any way permit their presence to interfere with the legitimate action of the Chinese defensive forces. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has to reiterate that, while the Chinese forces will avoid as far as possible endangering the safety of the vessels of friendly powers, the Chinese Government will not hold itself responsible for any damage caused to them as a result of the noncompliance with the request of the Chinese military authorities." 2. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs explained to me that Chinese Government has no intention to attack ships of friendly powers but hopes that you will do everything possible to remain away from Japanese warships which will be object of attack. I can do no more here. I believe Chinese are desperate and will attack Japanese ships at whatever cost. Repeated to Department, sent to Shanghai. JOHNSON 793.94/9519 : Telegram The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) WASHINGTON, August 19, 1937-midnight. 249. Nanking's 474, August 20, 6 p. m. [a. m.] to Shanghai which was repeated to the Department, and previous regarding notification by Chinese military authorities and Foreign Office of an impending attack on Japanese warships. Realizing that the Commander-in-Chief is in a difficult and extremely delicate position, and confident that he will exercise utmost discretion and forbearance, Department nevertheless, after consultation with Chief of Naval Operations and with his full approval, calls attention to Department's telegram No. 138, August 10, noon, to Nanking 81 which, with knowledge and approval of the Navy and War Departments, conveyed Department's concept of the mission 81 Ante, p. 252. of the United States armed forces in China, and which carried instruction for repetition to Shanghai and other offices. The Department assumes that contents of that telegram were brought to the attention of the commanding officers of American armed forces. You and the Commander-in-Chief will realize that this Government, while desiring that its nationals be protected, also desires to avoid becoming in any way involved in the conflict which is going on between the Chinese and Japanese, or in interference with their military operations. Therefore, it is assumed that, while remaining intent on the mission of protecting American nationals, our armed forces will to as great an extent as possible avoid coming into or remaining in line of fire between Japanese and Chinese armed forces and, if in such line of fire, will not make assumption that fire is being deliberately directed against them unless such is with reasonable clearness the case. This is not an instruction or an order; it represents an effort to be of assistance to you and the Commander-in-Chief in connection with the many difficult problems which confront you. Please bring the above to the attention of the Commander-in-Chief at once. HULL 793.94/9696: Telegram The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State SHANGHAI, August 26, 1937-10 a. m. [Received August 26-7:45 a. m.] 565. Press reports state that Vice Admiral Hasegawa, Commander in Chief Japanese Third Fleet, late yesterday afternoon proclaimed that navigation along the lower Yangtze and along Central China coast from Shanghai to a point south of Swatow is closed to Chinese shipping. The prescribed area extends from 32.4 degrees north latitude and 121.84 degrees east longitude to 23.14 degrees north latitude and 116.48 degrees east longitude. The prohibition will be enforced by the Japanese Navy. It does not affect foreign or Japanese shipping. I have verified from Japanese Consul General that this press report is correct. Sent to the Department. Repeated to Nanking. GAUSS 793.94/9705: Telegram The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State 82 TOKYO, August 26, 1937-5 p. m. [Received August 26-10:20 a. m.] 316. Yoshizawa & handed to Dooman 83 this afternoon a copy of the Foreign Office Statement 83a issued today with regard to the arrest and search of Chinese vessels, the text of which we understand has been transmitted to the United States by press correspondents. Dooman inquired whether, with reference to the last sentence of the statement, any consideration had been given to the status of Chinese vessels owned wholly or in substantial part by third party nationals and to the treatment of cargo so owned on arrested Chinese vessels. Yoshizawa declined to make any comment but he stated that the Foreign Office would be glad to give sympathetic consideration to any case involving property rights of American nationals, if and when such case should arise. Repeated to Shanghai for relay to Nanking. GREW 793.94/9730: Telegram The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State TOKYO, August 27, 1937-7 p. m. [Received August 27-12:21 p. m.] 322. Senior Aide to Navy Minister stated this afternoon to Naval Attaché as follows: Question. What was meant when you stated "blockade aims principally at destroying the fighting power of the Chinese and will not unnecessarily seize Chinese vessels and confiscate the cargoes aboard them" and "Japanese will duly respect peaceful commerce being carried on by the third powers and will never interfere with it". Answer. The purpose of the blockade is to prevent war supplies getting to the Chinese forces. As no war exists Japan will not interfere with the commerce of any nation other than China. Interference with Chinese trade only to the extent of confiscating war supplies on Chinese ships. By "peaceful commerce of third powers" is meant ordinary commerce which now might include cargo of a warlike nature. 82 Seijiro Yoshizawa, Director of the American Affairs Bureau, Japanese Foreign Office. 83 Eugene H. Dooman, Counselor of Embassy in Japan. Ba For text of press statement by Japanese Foreign Office on blockade of China coast, see telegram No. 323, August 28, 9 a. m., from the Ambassador in Japan, p. 436. A hypothetical question was asked as to what would happen to a Canadian Pacific or Dollar Line vessel bound for Shanghai with war material known to be destined for Chinese forces. The answer was "No interference would be made with that vessel". When asked as to the "status of Chinese vessels owned wholly or in part by third party", the answer was "war supplies, if on board would be confiscated, vessel and remainder of cargo would be subsequently freed". Armies in Shanghai are consolidating positions while awaiting the arrival of supplies such as ammunition and, probably, artillery. Army transports were said to be used for this purpose. No offensive has been undertaken as yet, except as necessary to gain and maintain positions. Combined fleet has retired. They have had their inning and will undoubtedly not be used for this purpose again. No army aircraft are operating in Shanghai area yet, fields in that vicinity not having been completely prepared. When asked whether the army expected to move against Hangchow, the reply was that such was a general staff matter. When asked at [as to?] the purpose of landing troops in Hangchow Bay, Senior Aide stated landing there was only a rumor. Situation in Tsingtao quiet, has not changed in the last 48 hours. Japanese nationals, however, are being evacuated. Repeated to Shanghai for relay to Nanking. Grew 793.94/9738: Telegram The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State 84 TOKYO, August 28, 1937-9 a. m. [Received August 27-11:15 p. m.] 323. Department's 171, August 27, 3 p. m. The following is complete text of statement issued to the press by the Foreign Office on August 26, 1937: "Although Japan has been forced to adopt measures of self-defense in the face of lawless attacks upon her forces by Chinese Armies and their wanton disregard of Japanese lives and property and violations of Japan's rights and interests in China, it has always been the desire of the Japanese Government to minimize the scope of the present affair. However, the Chinese Armies by their repeated outrages and provocations have intensified still further the gravity of the situation. In these circumstances, with a view to prompting China's reconsideration and to effecting a speedy settlement, the Japanese naval authorities found it necessary to close to traffic of Chinese vessels the Chinese sea coast from 32 degrees 4 minutes north latitude and 122 84 Not printed. |