711.94/2268: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 8—3:30 p.m.]
1427. For the Secretary and the Under Secretary only. Department’s 566, September 6, 5 p.m.98 I have given careful thought to the proposed plan for the army transport Pierce to call at Yokohama on or about September 22 to embark American citizens,99 and I strongly recommend that consideration of the project be deferred until decision is taken by our Government with regard to the Japanese proposal for a conference between the President and the Japanese Prime Minister. If a negative reply is returned to the latter proposal, which I most earnestly hope will not be the case, I shall expect to submit immediately certain recommendations with regard to the evacuation of American citizens. But so long as decision is pending on this most important proposal, it would seem highly desirable to defer the sending to Japan of a public vessel on an emergency call, which would be attended by the utmost publicity and by undesirable speculation and excitement, all of which would inevitably be taken by the Japanese Government as indication of intention on the part of our Government to reject the proposal. If the meeting is arranged, I do not think that an evacuation ship should come at this time.
The outlook with regard to steamship accommodations to Shanghai for American citizens, which is discussed in our immediately following telegram,98 has improved considerably.
- Not printed.↩
- See also vol. v, pp. 397 ff.↩
- Not printed.↩