793.94/8208: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Japan (Dickover)
Washington, October 2, 1936—9
p.m.
127. Your 200, October 1, 10 p.m.
- 1.
- The Department is continuing to study the situation in the light of all available reports. In the meanwhile the Department desires that the Embassy act along the lines of the suggestion contained in paragraph 5 of your telegram under reference, namely, to let the Japanese Government know by informal conversations that the American Government is watching the situation constantly and with solicitous interest. In so doing the Embassy should act as upon its own initiative, and the Embassy will of course endeavor to avoid publicity and to choose as soon as practicable appropriate occasions for such conversations.
- 2.
- We suggest that you (or alternatively Ballantine) say to the Vice Minister that you had for some time been observing with concern the press reports of the differences lying between the Japanese Government and the Chinese Government, but that you had refrained from approaching the Foreign Office lest undesirable publicity ensue; that the press reports are now assuming so serious a tone that you consider it advisable to seek authoritative information with regard to the developments to which the press reports refer; and that you accordingly invite the Vice Minister to comment on these reports in order that you may be in position to keep your Government adequately and accurately informed of developments in a situation which of course commands its interest and concern.
- 3.
- Please continue to report promptly and fully by cable.
- 4.
- The Department appreciates the promptness and comprehensiveness of your telegram under reference.
- 5.
- Referring to paragraph 6 of your telegram under reference, a telegram from Wilson at Geneva indicates that the Chinese Ambassadors to Great Britain and to France had knowledge that the British Government intended to instruct its Ambassador in Tokyo to approach the Japanese Government.
Hull