393.115/611: Telegram
The Consul at Chefoo (Roberts) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 18—8 a.m.]
30. The Japanese Consul at Chefoo in a letter dated April 11 informed the Consular Body that the Japanese commander of the naval landing party has issued orders forbidding Japanese and third power nationals proceeding outside Chefoo. The restriction is said to have been imposed “from the necessity of guarding and also from the point of view of preventing danger by any further attack”.
The new order interferes with travel overland between Chefoo and the American mission stations in the interior of Shantung.
I today joined my colleagues in informal discussion with Japanese Consul in an effort to make arrangements which would remove the restrictions on the travel of Americans and other persons in this Consular District. The Japanese Consul promised to take this matter up again with the naval authorities.
Repeated to Peiping and to Chungking.