793.94/4316: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 19—2:36 p.m.]
82. My telegram No. 75, February 19, 11 a.m. Following is translation of Japanese ultimatum delivered to General Tsai Ting-kai February 19 [18], 9 p.m., text was released by Japanese Consul General this afternoon.
“Prompted by my earnest desire to perform my duties by peaceful and friendly means, I hereby present to you the following articles:
- 1.
- Your forces will speedily cease all hostile actions, and complete the evacuation of your first line before 7 a.m. on February 20, and by 5 p.m. on February 20th, you shall have completed the evacuation of the entire area to a depth of 20 kilometers north of the following lines, including the Szetselin forts, namely, to the west of the Huangpoo River, draw a line from the northwest point of the International Settlement, through Tsaochiadoo and Chowchiachaoo to Poosung-chen, and to the east of the Huangpoo River a line from Lannidoo to Changchiachaoo. All fortifications and military works to be completely removed in the evacuated area, and no new ones to be erected.
- 2.
- Japanese troops shall not attack or bomb or chase Chinese troops once they have begun evacuation. This, however, does not prevent aeroplanes from being sent out on preservation [observation?] duty.
- Japanese troops shall, after the evacuation by Chinese troops, maintain only the Shanghai Municipal roads area adjacent to Hongkew including the Hongkew Park.
- 3.
- Japanese troops shall, after the evacuation of the first line by Chinese troops, send to the evacuated area investigators guarded and protected by Japanese soldiers. The said investigators shall carry Japanese national flags for the purpose of identification.
- 4.
- Chinese troops shall assume full responsibility for the safety of life and property of Japanese people outside of the evacuated area, failing which the Japanese shall take necessary steps. With regard to plain-clothes men they are to be effectively suppressed.
- 5.
- As regards protection for foreigners in the vicinity of Shanghai, including the evacuated area, the matter will be dealt with subsequently.
- 6.
- With reference to the anti-Japanese movement the promise of Mayor Wu as declared on January 28 must be strictly enforced. Relating to this clause the matter shall be dealt with by diplomatic negotiations between Japanese Foreign Office and civil administration official (Chinese) Shanghai.
Unless the above articles are complied with Japanese troops will be compelled to take free action in which event Chinese troops must be responsible for all the consequences resulting therefrom. Signed, Uyeda.”
2. A similar note was sent by Japanese Consul General to Mayor Wu with following addition.
“In this connection I wish to state that, as has been pointed out in my note of the 15th instant, I regard that the present actions of the 19th Route Army are due to the lack on our [your] part of the intention and ability to effect immediate dissolution of the anti-Japanese organizations and suppression of all anti-Japanese movements as was promised in your note of the 28th of January in reply to my note of the 20th of January. I once more request that you carry out immediately and perfectly what you have undertaken in your above said note.
I shall watch with deep concern how the aforesaid terms for the withdrawal of the Chinese troops will be carried out. Should they fail to be carried out satisfactorily, the Japanese authorities would be obliged to take such measures as they think proper, and the whole responsibility for any possible consequences must be borne by you.”
Repeated to Legation and Nanking.