793.94/11456: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of
State
Shanghai, December 4, 1937—6
p.m.
[Received December 4—2:20 p.m.]
1087. Reference Nanking’s telegram 944, November 22, 10 p.m.,
concerning safety zone at Nanking. Japanese Ambassador through his
Consul General has requested that the following observations be
communicated to American Ambassador as prepared by Japanese
authorities concerned after serious consideration of the proposal of
the international community in Nanking:
- “1. In view of the fact that the suggested area is
located within the well fortified rampart of Nanking and
is fairly extensive and that there exist within its
perimeter no natural vantage grounds or artificial
structures by means of which communication can
effectively be cut off whenever necessity arise it is
considered necessary that sufficient powers, material or
otherwise have to be vested in the hands of the
supporters of the safety plan zone in order to check
effectively the entry of Chinese armed troops which may
in the event of hostilities breaking out nearby try to
take shelter within the zone or utilize it for military
purpose.
- 2. It must also be pointed out that in and around the
said area there exist Chinese military establishments
and that there are places in and around the said area
that can hardly be considered to be left unused by the
Chinese troops in case fighting will break out in
Nanking in future.
- 3. Taking the foregoing into consideration the
Japanese authorities entertain apprehension that even
though the Chinese authorities had accepted the proposal
under review sufficient guarantee could
[Page 758]
hardly be obtained in the
event of fighting occurring in the city of Nanking for
entirely preventing Chinese troops from entering into
the zone or utilizing it for military purposes.
- 4. Under these circumstances the Japanese authorities
while fully appreciating the lofty motive of the
sponsors of the proposal in question are not in a
position to give an undertaking that the said area will
not be either bombed or bombarded.
- 5. It may be taken for granted, however, that the
Japanese forces have no intentions whatever to attack
such places as are not utilized by Chinese troops for
military purposes or such areas where the Chinese troops
have not established their military works and
establishment and where there are no Chinese troops
stationed.”
Repeated to Hankow, Nanking, Peiping, Tokyo.
