Evening star., 1932-01-30
Hoover Is Kept
Advised of
Situation.
Japan REPEATS
IT'S ASSURANCES
Debuchi Sees Slim
son; Fight Blamed
on Shippers.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
On the heels of vigorous pro-
test by the United States and
Great Britain against the Japa-
neSe seizure of Shanghai, the
Navy today ordered its Asiatic
Fleet to stand ready to protect
American lives in strife ridden
China.
Our fleet" Admiral William V.
Pratt said, will be ready to evac-
uate our nationals or to protect
them if a crisis arises where mob
rule prevails.
"Our forces will go in and take
whatever steps are necessary to
protect our people"
In the strongest move since the
horror of battle has Strangled
normal life in the Chinese sea-
port, the two nations applied
their protest specifically to the
Japanese seizure of the native
Chinese city, Chapel, at Shanghai.
Consul Forwards Reports.
Admiral Pratt pointed out that sew
eral United States naval ships are dis
tributed along the Yangtze River and
other points in the general vicinity.
He pointed out there are a large
number of women and children in
China.
He also said that the ships of the
battle force will leave San Diego Mon
day for Winter maneuvers off Hawaii,
as scheduled but will not go beyond
those islands at present.
Eight destroyerS are now being pre-
pared at Manila to leave at moments
notice, but no specific orders have yet
been issued for departure Four are
now en- route from there to Shanghai,
The formal protest was on the basis
of reports received from the American
consul at Shanghai. Edwin s. Cunning
ham, to the effect that Japan-after
the Chinese had agreed to Japan's de-
mandS-had taken sections Of the ma
tive city by military force.
The State Department had before it
a general summary of the situation, as
it applied to the International Settle
ment as handed to Cunningham as Sc
nior consul by the Municipal Council
of Shanghai.
The decisive stand by this country
and Great Britain went much further
than earlier representations, which were
based only on the safety of foreign cit
liens and property in the International
Settlement.
Further Protests Possible.
The summary forwarded by Cunning
ham to the State Department may be
the basis of further protests by the
United States and Great Britain. 1t
contains a general protest against the
violation of the neutrality of the Inter
national Settlement"
In a second point the Municipal
Council protested to the foreign con-
suls at Shanghai against the Settle
ment being used as a base OF opera
tions by the Japanese against the Chi
neSe.
1t protested against interference by
and the sending of japanese troops
into parts of the International Settle
ment set aside under the Settlement
defense plan for other nations to de-
fend
1t specifically mentioned japanese
troops being sent to sections assigned
TO American Marines for protection
and to the sections bounded by Honan
road, Range road and HongjeW Greek.
Japan Repeats Pledge.
Earlier today the Government re-
ceived from Japan further assurance
that it will scrupulously respect the
integrity of the International Settle
ment at Shanghai"
Ambassador Debuchi, who had just
returned from a trip to Cuba, gave the
assurances to Secretary of State Slim
son on instructions from Toxic. He de-
scribed the Shanghai situation as "a
serious incident"
Prior to the visit of the japanese
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