Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1937, The Far East, Volume III

793.94/11075: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State

Tokyo, November 12, 1937—noon.
[Received November 12—12:59 a.m.]

533. Our 524, November 6, 6 p.m.

1. The papers announce this morning that Imperial Headquarters will be established within the next few days on the basis of a new ordinance applicable to the existing de jure condition of affairs. It is also reported that the Headquarters will be purely an organ to coordinate military and naval operations and will have no political or other civil functions.

2. If the foregoing is correct, it is apparent that the question whether war will be declared has been dissociated from the headquarters question. It is our opinion, therefore, that a declaration of war will not be issued in the immediate future.

Repeated to Nanking.

Grew