File No. 861.00/2770
The Chargé in Japan ( Spencer ) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 23, 2.55 p.m.]
I called on the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and left with him a memorandum in the sense of the Department’s September 21 [20], 6 p.m. He discussed the British proposals of retaliation for Captain Cromie’s murder in Petrograd, made some two weeks ago, and said he had stated Japan’s willingness to act at that time in conjunction with all the Allies but not with England alone. He seemed certain of Japan’s sympathetic feeling towards the suggestion for the civilized nations to express abhorrence at present existing mass terrorism, but was skeptical as to immediate results therefrom, adding that mere expressions had but little influence on perpetrators of murders. He promised a reply within a few days and requested detailed information as to measures proposed I might be able to give at a later date.