893.102S/2098a
The Department of State to the Department of the Navy95
Substance of Proposed Reply to Admiral Hart
In view of your estimate that under present conditions your forces at Shanghai are adequate, you are authorized, provided the American Consul at Shanghai concurs and if, in the event that such a contingency arises, you are able to work out a mutually satisfactory arrangement with the Japanese, to proceed in such a contingency in accordance with your recommendation, that is, to arrange that the American marines take over in Defense Sector B the functions now allocated to British troops.
- Approved by the Secretary of State and cabled by the Navy Department to Admiral Hart after President Roosevelt had been consulted by the Chief of Naval Operations (Stark).↩