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9 MAY 1939
9
From CHINA.
7
193
Decypher.
Mr. Archer (Peking).
May 8th 1939.
D.
Wireless.
May 9th 1939.
R. 9.30 a.m.
May 9th 1959.
No. 58.
Addressed to Shanghai No.129 of May 8th.
There have recently been rumours that Japanese are preparing
directly or through Provisional Government to challenge special
status of diplomatic quarter and claim right to assume
administrative control including police functions.
2. Japanese spokesman when questioned on the subject
at press conference here on May 5th gave non-committal reply
but American local correspondent of Associated Press was
confidentially informed by a friend connected with Provisional
Government that this was in fact intention of Japanese though
definite action depended on outcome of their present demands
in respect of foreign areas at Shanghai and Tientsin.
3. Further confirmation may be derived from communiqué
referred to in my immediately following telegram.
4. In view of participation of Axis Powers in Boxer protocol and presence of Italian guard in diplomatic quarter it is difficult to believe that Japanese will attempt to
achieve the above objective by force though they might bring indirect pressure to bear on American, French and British authorities at any rate by intimidation of employees and
P.O. REGISTRY.
Ил
other
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