THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
174
FAR EASTERN (CHINA).
CONFIDENTIAL.
[F 2519/84/10]
March 14, 1939.
SECTION 2.
Copy No.
Consul-General Sir H. Phillips to Sir A. Clark Kerr (Shanghai).—(Communi- cated under cover of Shanghai despatch to Foreign Office No. 63 of February 23; Received March 14.)
(No. 82. Confidential.) Sir,
Shanghai, February 23, 1939.
WITH reference to my telegram No. 40 of the 22nd February, I have the honour to forward herewith copy of a memorandum, dated yesterday, sent to me by the secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Council, which contains the text of the letter handed at 3 P.M. on the 22nd February to the chairman of the council by Mr. Miura, Japanese Consul-General.
I have, &c.
HERBERT PHILLIPS.
Enclosure.
Memorandum from the Secretary, Shanghai Municipal Council, February 22, 1939.
THE Japanese Consul-General, accompanied by the commander of the special landing party and the commander of the Japanese garrison, called on the chairman of the council on Wednesday, the 22nd February, and spoke as follows:-
With reference to our conversation on Monday last, I have brought a written representation to the chairman of the municipal council. A number of requests are set forth in this note, and I wish to emphasise that these requests are made in the genuine spirit of co-operation and goodwill, with a view to suppressing and repudiating the terroristic activities in the Settlement which are now the order of the day, and also to preserving the peace and order in the Settlement. I hope you will be good enough to understand our position and give us a prompt acceptance.
"I wish to add that there is much room for doubt that the present terroristic activities are being carried out to cause a direct clash between Japan and the municipal council and also with some third Powers, especially with Great Britain. We must be very careful not to be trapped by such a sinister strategy. And once again I wish you would take these requests as from our most earnest desire of coping with the present most undesirable situation."
C
The Japanese Consul-General then handed to the chairman the following written memorandum :
، ،
"Japanese Consul-General to the Chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Council.
Japanese Consulate-General, "Sir,
Shanghai, February 22, 1939. "In conjunction with the commander of the special landing party of the Japanese navy and the commander of the garrison of the Japanese army, I have the honour to refer to my representations to you regarding the suppression of terrorist activities of the anti-Japanese elements, in order to maintain peace and order in the International Settlement, the latest of these communications being dated the 15th February, with which a memorandum of the commander of the special landing party of the Japanese navy was transmitted.
"In spite of your repeated assurances of co-operation, anti-Japanese terrorism in the Settlement south of the Soochow Creek continued to exist, and on the 19th February, the Lunar New Year's Day, a number of outrages were again committed. The Japanese authorities take a serious view of the fact that among the victims were men in the employ of the Japanese army and a woman.
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