793.94/11428: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 3—6:55 a.m.]
589. 1. Our 588, December 2, 4 p.m., was sent after checking with the British Embassy, which also received from the Foreign Office the assurance set forth in last sentence of our telegram under reference.
2. The papers this morning carry a report from Shanghai to the effect that a demonstration march of Japanese troops will be held at noon today through the International and French Settlements. The Foreign Office, in reply to an inquiry which we immediately made, insists that nothing has been received on this subject from the Consul General at Shanghai subsequent to the report on the basis of which we were assured yesterday that plans to send Japanese troops into the neutral areas had been abandoned.
3. We urged that instructions be sent countermanding orders for the march, but the Foreign Office expressed doubt whether any effective action could be taken. I let the Foreign Office know that, if this demonstration is held, another example would be offered of discrepancies between the statements of the Foreign Office and the actions of the Japanese military. My British colleague is making similar representations.
Repeated to Shanghai.