893.00/6109
The British Ambassador (Howard) to the Secretary of State
Sir: Information has been received by His Majesty’s Government which leads them to fear that civil war on an extensive scale may again break out in the near future in North China, and that the rival forces are likely to be commanded on the one side by Chang Tso-Lin and on the other by Feng Yu-Hsiang and his associates. I need hardly emphasize the deplorable results which would follow any such outbreak and the serious damage which would be caused to the country in general and its arteries of transportation in particular.
In these circumstances, His Majesty’s Ambassador at Tokio has been instructed to ascertain from the Japanese Government, as the [Page 602] Great Power most directly concerned, whether they desire to make any proposals with a view to international consultation or the use of diplomatic pressure upon the rival Chinese groups so as to prevent the hostilities now threatened. It appears to His Majesty’s Government that this is an opportune moment for Japan to submit constructive proposals calling for joint pacific action, and it is scarcely necessary to add that any such suggestions emanating from the Imperial Government would both carry great weight with and would be warmly welcomed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain.
In furnishing you with the substance of the instructions which have been sent to Sir C. Eliot, I am directed to solicit the cooperation of the United States Government in this important matter and to say that His Majesty’s Government would appreciate an early expression of their views upon the questions dealt with in this note.
The situation which unhappily seems likely to arise in China has also been brought to the notice of the French Government, to whom the attitude of my Government has been made known.
I have [etc.]