393.115 Standard Vacuum Oil Co./243: Telegram
The Consul at Shanghai (Butrick) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 1—6:30 a.m.]
Following repeated at Chungking’s request.
“May 31, 7 p.m. Tokyo’s 394, May 31, noon.63 Japanese Consul General now names Standard-Vacuum Oil and Texas installations at Wu Kweistone wharf [?] and states ‘that the American firms be instructed to make the Chinese forces withdraw immediately from the place and that they be notified that in the event of their failure to do so the Japanese authorities cannot assume any responsibility for what [Page 874] might unavoidably ensue from the operations of the Japanese forces at certain positions.
At all events it is urgently recommended that members of the American organizations take refuge at some other place of safety for the time being.’ He asks me to take necessary measures and inform him of result. Standard and Texas here informed. I shall reply tomorrow that Embassy has been informed but that Japanese Government must be held responsible for damage to American lives and property. Butrick.”
- Not printed.↩