793.94/15725: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss)
95. Reference Shanghai’s March 4, 2 p.m., to Canton, projected Japanese military operations on Hainan Island. While the attitude and position of this Government in regard to communications from the Japanese authorities such as that contained in your telegram under reference have been made abundantly clear on a number of occasions in the past, it is believed that you should reply to the Japanese Consul General to the effect that although American nationals generally have been and are advised voluntarily to withdraw from places of special danger to places of safety and to take other precautionary measures, obligation rests upon the Japanese military authorities, irrespective of whether American nationals do or do not take such precautionary measures, to avoid injuring American lives and property.
Sent to Shanghai. Repeated to Canton, Peiping, Hong Kong and Chungking. Peiping repeat to Tokyo.