793.94/9318: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 12—2:28 p.m.]
462. Supplementing previous urgent messages I complained to Mayor this afternoon of action of the Peace Preservation Corps in taking up defensive positions and not permitting Americans to pass freely into the settlements without any warning to me or to foreign residents. I had to send Consul Stanton87 with a Marine Officer under American flag to the area to facilitate and check departure of Americans. They had to proceed long distance on foot, bridges being mined so that cars could not pass. Mayor alleged he was in his office. British Consul General told me he in an emergency also had difficulty in contacting him. He seems to be remaining mostly in French Concession.
- 2.
- At Joint Commission meeting Japanese Consul General and Japanese naval delegate offered not to provide for defensive positions if the Chinese regular troops in Haskell road area would be moved to other side of railway tracks. Chinese Mayor, who was unaccompanied by military delegate, could not agree.
- 3.
- American returning from mission station at Liuho with the missionaries states countryside full of Chinese regular troops moving toward Shanghai.
- 4.
- It is impossible to expect that opposing forces can avoid a clash. Heavy Japanese patrols are reported to have been established in North Szechuan road area tonight.
- 5.
- Shanghai Volunteer Corps and municipal police were ordered mobilized this evening and request was made for assistance of American and British forces. Commanding Officer Fourth Marines is now conferring with British Commander. In conference with American Commander I made the suggestion that from the political standpoint all that might now be necessary would be outposts in support of police at bridge heads, at ferries and roads in the usual American and British sectors in order to take precautions to protect the neutral area south of Soochow Creek and yet give no pretext for action by Japanese forces based on strong defensive precautions of forces in the neutral area. However, in view of the Chinese attitude that if Japan bases on the Settlement the usual neutral character of the Settlement cannot be respected, it seems desirable that the neutral forces take their precautionary measures and announce their action as providing the refuge [Page 390] for foreign nationals. I am cooperating closely with Commander of United States Marines.
- 6.
- Commander Fourth Marines has just called and informs me that the plan as outlined above is being carried out, his detachments are supporting the police.
Repeated to Nanking and Peiping.
- Edwin F. Stanton, Consul at Shanghai.↩