793.94/3718: Telegram
The Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 29—3 p.m.]
30. Vansittart sent for me this afternoon and explained that since your conversation with Lindsay early in the week British Government had been attempting to compose its reply, having in mind the precedent established in 1927 when British troops were introduced into the International Settlement only, however, after consultation with the interested powers. Yesterday afternoon British difficulty was solved in that the Japanese Chargé d’Affaires called upon the Foreign Secretary and explained that in the opinion of the Japanese. Government drastic measures might be necessary in Shanghai in an effort to suppress centers of anti-Japanese propaganda. The Foreign Secretary immediately asked what was meant by “drastic” action and the Japanese Chargé d’Affaires stated that introduction of Japanese troops into the International Settlement was envisaged. Vansittart said this immediately put the British in position to make the representations to the [Page 99] Japanese Government along the lines set forth in my 29, January 29, 1 p.m.,72 pointing out the 1927 precedent.
Vansittart stated Lindley was instructed to approach the Japanese Government immediately, acting insofar as possible with his American colleague. In the meantime British Government had advised Rome and Paris, as well as Washington, of this instruction telegraphed the British Ambassador in Tokyo last evening73 in the hope that these countries might instruct their diplomatic representatives in the same sense.
I was informed that this morning a further 8–inch gun cruiser had been ordered from Hong Kong to Shanghai.
Vansittart then stated a further instruction to that of last night had been telegraphed to Ambassador Lindley in Tokyo this morning and repeated to the British Ambassador in Washington, who was instructed to inform you of the substance of this instruction to Lindley but no other government has been apprised of it.74 In short, only latest Foreign Office cable to Tokyo instructs Ambassador Lindley to protest to the Japanese Government against the use of force in the Chinese suburb of Chapei where there are also many foreign interests, and states, inter alia, that the presence of disorganized Chinese troops there cannot be considered as sufficient reason for the measures taken.