893.00 Nanking/71
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide Memoire
His Majesty’s Embassy have been notified by His Britannic Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that His [Page 175] Majesty’s Government have as yet received no intimation from the United States Government of the action which they are prepared to take in regard to the Nanking incident. His Majesty’s Government assume, however, that the United States Government do not contemplate allowing this outrageous affair to pass without insisting on a proper apology and reparation, and that they will be ready to cooperate with the other Powers concerned in opposing and doing what they can to prevent for the future so flagrant a manifestation of the present wave of violence and disorder which prevails throughout the south of China, accompanied as it has been by deliberate outrages and insults to peaceful and law-abiding American and other foreigners.
His Majesty’s Government are themselves seriously considering what measures can usefully be taken to meet this situation and they would be glad to communicate most frankly to the United States Government the result of their deliberations, in the hope that the latter will be willing to cooperate wholeheartedly with them in defending their common interests in China against repetition of this outrageous attack upon them. In the meantime, His Majesty’s Government would be glad to learn whether at this stage the United States Government have any observations or suggestions to offer as to the nature and scope of the measures which might be taken for this end.