893.811/1055: Telegram
The Commander in Chief, United States Asiatic Fleet (Yarnell), to the Chief of Naval Operations (Leahy)75
[Received November 30—7 a.m.]
0129. Vice Admiral Oikawa, Commander-in-Chief Japanese naval forces in China, delivered following memorandum dated 28 November at 1200 today:
“1. The Yangtze River was blockaded for military purposes by the Chiang Kai-shek Administration, but the booms were cut through by [Page 206] the Japanese forces in order to carry out military operations. The military operations along the river and in the adjoining areas are still continued on a scale as large as heretofore.
2. Furthermore, the movement of Japanese war vessels and military transports up and down the river is still very frequent, while the necessity of keeping military secrets remains as great as heretofore. Moreover, the activities of Chinese irregulars on the river and along the banks are still unabated. The danger of mines and bullet or shell-fire still exists even below the Kiangyin boom, as is evidenced by the facts that the Japanese troops at Changkaikiang were fired upon from a ship on the river on October 24th while engaging guerillas on the other side, and that the Tokusin Maru, a Japanese military transport, was attacked above Tungchow on November 18th.
The Japanese forces are still engaged in destroying the Chinese forces along the river, in clearing or surveying the channels, and in setting up beacons. There has been no great change in the situation as far as the military operations along the Yangtze are concerned.
3. Therefore, as long as the Chiang Kai-shek Administration continues the warfare against Japan, considerable time will yet be required before the military operations along the Yangtze River can be ended and it is deemed appropriate for the navigation of third power vessels to be allowed.
4. Nevertheless, in view of the fact that a considerable time has elapsed since war vessels belonging to the Navy of your country were blocked up on the Yangtze by the Chinese forces and that these vessels may have been suffering from various inconveniences, I am ready to consider rendering, if you so desire, facilities for the navigation of only the warship, on the following conditions:
Affirm. The navigation shall be effected solely on your own risk.
Baker. Only the downriver navigation of the warship stationed on the Yangtze River between Wuhu and Yochow, and the upriver navigation of the relief warship not exceeding the original number of ships to be relieved at each station in the said area, shall be allowed.
Cast. Downriver transportation of your nationals residing in the said area and transportation of foodstuffs by the warship navigation up or down the river in accordance with (Baker) shall be allowed.
Dog. The navigation shall not hamper the Japanese military operations.
Easy. In view of the fact that the mechanical mines in the Yangtze River are still dangerous to a considerable degree, and the important Japanese vessels are having their courses swept and being escorted, the warships of your Navy, when carrying out the above mentioned navigation, shall, in particular respects, be escorted and their course be swept by Japanese vessels, and they shall be conducted by Japanese vessels when crossing a boom or a defense net. The above facilities being to be afforded by the Japanese forces while they are engaged in active operations, and the capacity of the forces available being limited, the downriver navigation of the warships of your Navy and the despatch of the relief warships will have to be restricted to only once, and the downriver or upriver navigation of the warships of all the countries shall be effected in a group respectively. The date for the navigation will be fixed by consultation probably in the beginning of December. By undertaking the sweeping of the course [Page 207] and the escort, the Japanese Navy do not mean to hold themselves responsible for the safety of the warships of your Navy.
Fox. The anchorage of the warships of your Navy shall be in accordance with (Baker), except the possible temporary anchorage necessary for the navigation.
George. In view of the false report that followed the explosion of a mine at Kiukiang on August 28th, 1938, you are requested to guarantee that, in the event of the occurrence of any incidents, they shall not be reported by newspapers or otherwise as deliberately created by the Japanese.
Hypo. Navigation below Wuhu shall remain the same as heretofore, [”]
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Navy Department.↩