740.0011 P.W./3–2645
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Director of the Office of European Affairs (Matthews)
The Swedish and Swiss Ministers7 called this morning at their joint request and left with me the attached two self-explanatory memoranda.8 These memoranda indicate that the civilian population of Shanghai are considerably excited because of a reported statement of the Japanese authorities that the city of Shanghai would be defended militarily at all costs. The memoranda suggest therefore that since a large scale evacuation seems impossible, a safety zone should be set up which would in effect be immune from military operations. The memoranda inquire as to the attitude of this Government with respect to this proposal and indicate that similar suggestions are being made by the Swedish and Swiss Governments in Shungking and Tokyo. (The Swiss memorandum states that the Swiss Government has already approached the French Government, which has given its full approval to the proposal.)
I told Mr. Boström and Mr. Bruggmann that I would be glad to see that the question be studied promptly, adding that in view of the important military factors involved our military authorities would of course have to be consulted. They both said that they understood, but requested that action be expedited.