893.102S/2211: Telegram
The Consul at Shanghai (Butrick) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 22—2:05 p.m.]
820. Reference my 811, August 21, 4 p.m. Rear Admiral Glassford met Vice Admiral Iwamura by appointment at the latter’s request this morning. The latter stated that Tokyo is not negotiating with Washington and that the Japanese Foreign Office had requested the American Embassy at Tokyo so to inform Admiral Hart with the request or suggestion that he and Glassford be authorized to continue their conversations. Glassford replied that he was not in receipt of such instructions but that he was willing to carry on purely private conversations if so desired. Iwamura replied that he was representing Admiral Shimada and that he preferred not to begin conversations until Glassford’s position was made entirely clear, especially with reference to any present negotiations between Washington and Tokyo.
Sent to the Department and Tokyo. Repeated to Chungking, Peiping, and Tsingtao for the information of Commander-in-Chief. Department please inform Navy Department.