793.94/4069: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 9—5:15 a.m.]
19. Following is text of letter dated February 6th from Chairman [of] Municipal Council addressed to me as Senior Consul:
“I have the honor to represent to you the great danger attendant upon the flight over the Settlement of aeroplanes engaged in hostile operations and in observation and demonstration flights.
Such flights not only cause intense alarm to the civilian inhabitants in a time of tension like the present, but the danger to life and property from fire attracted by aeroplanes and from projectiles which have been falling in great numbers in the Settlement is fraught with the gravest danger in a community so congested and full of refugees. Moreover, the consequences of bombs falling or a bomb-laden aeroplane crashing in the Settlement would be calamitous.
Japanese aeroplanes have been constantly flying over the Settlement in the past week despite the requests and representations conveyed to the Japanese authorities. I have accordingly the honor to request you to make urgent representations to both the Japanese and Chinese authorities to refrain from any activities which may endanger the lives and property of residents in the Settlement.”
This letter was circulated February 8th and with approval of consular body following letter was transmitted to Japanese Consul General evening February 8th, also a letter containing similar representations mutatis mutandis will be delivered to Mayor of Shanghai Municipality this morning:
“I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a letter dated February 6, 1932 from the Chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Council in which he represents the danger to life and property in the Settlement, and the alarm occasioned its inhabitants, through the flight of Japanese military aeroplanes, over the Settlement, whether engaged in observation and demonstration flights or in hostile operations.
My interested colleagues desire to endorse these representations of the Chairman of the Council, and to urge upon your attention the serious consequences which may result from the continued flight of these military aeroplanes over the Settlement. In doing so they also wish to express the hope that you will prevail upon your naval and military authorities to discontinue a practice which cannot but carry with it ever present possibilities of danger and disaster to Settlement life and property.
I am desirous to add that representations of this tenor are also being made to the Chinese authorities concerned in order that they may be persuaded to refrain from flying their military aeroplanes over the Settlement.”
Repeated to the Legation and Nanking.