793.94/11454: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 4—7:33 a.m.]
1085. At 10:30 this morning five Japanese trucks loaded with rice and other foodstuffs and a staff car containing altogether about 35 officers and men armed with rifles or revolvers were stopped by the French at the border of their concession and the Bund. After considerable discussion and a delay of about 1 hour, I understand the French authorities granted permits after a French policeman had been placed in each truck and the staff car and the rifles placed on the floors of the trucks.
With reference to my number 1081 dated December 3, 5 p.m., the Japanese cordon around the area were withdrawn by 9 o’clock last night. This morning two of General Matsui’s staff officers and the Assistant Military Attaché called on General Beaumont and apologized for entering the American defense sector yesterday. They said, according to a member of General Beaumont’s staff, that the mistake was due to their officer being unfamiliar with Shanghai and consequently unaware of the boundary of the American sector.
Repeated to Tokyo, Hankow, Nanking, Peiping.