740.0011 P.W./4–1245: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Briggs) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12:13 p.m.]
610. At the request of the political Vice Foreign Minister I called yesterday afternoon at the Foreign Office accompanied by Atcheson. Dr. Wu said that the Swiss and Swedish Governments were proposing that a portion of Shanghai such as the French Concession be established as a safety zone and had presumably taken up this question with the Japanese Government. (ReEmbs 608, April 11, 10 a.m. and previous.) He said that as the Concession and the International Settlement were to be returned to China the saving of property would of course be advantageous to his Government which nevertheless felt that there might be military considerations which would override such questions as saving of property or humanitarian considerations. He asked that I ascertain the views of the American Government in the matter.
Atcheson remarked confidentially that the Swedish Minister had mentioned this proposal to him some days previously and that he had at once asked the Swedish Minister who would inform [arrange?] the conditions necessary for the maintenance of such a zone and prevent the Japanese from making military or other use of it contrary to Allied interests. Wu said that in his personal opinion, the proposal might be successful if it were expanded into one for making the whole of Shanghai an “open city” forbidden to Japanese shipping or any military use and asked what we thought of this suggestion. We replied that the whole question appeared primarily military for determination of the pertinent military authorities but that we would be pleased in accordance with his request to refer the matter to Washington.
Headquarters, United States Forces, China theater informed.