793.94/3679: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan ( Forbes )

[Paraphrase]

28. Telegrams, Department’s No. 25, January 27, 2 p.m. and Embassy’s No. 26, January 28, 9 p.m.

1.
Confidentially for your information:
(1)
I have been informed by the British Ambassador here, and it is my presumption that the British Ambassador at Tokyo has informed you, of the concurrent action of the British Government.
(2)
A copy of British Government’s subsequent instruction to British Ambassador at Tokyo, January 29, has now been communicated to me by the British Ambassador here. This instruction directed the Ambassador to protest strongly the action taken at Shanghai by Japanese forces and to request that those forces be restrained by the Japanese Government. The hope that the American Government will act in a similar sense is expressed by the British Foreign Minister.
2.
You will please immediately confer with the British Ambassador and, after he has communicated his second message, communicate at the earliest possible moment the following to the Foreign Minister in close paraphrase but without leaving a copy:

On the basis of the best information in possession of the American Government at the present moment, it appears that recent Sino-Japanese negotiations at Shanghai resulted in there being sent by the Chinese Mayor of the Municipality of Greater Shanghai to the Japanese Consul General, on the afternoon of January 28, a reply to demands which the Japanese Consul General had presented, which reply the Japanese Consul General informed the Consular Body was satisfactory. Notwithstanding this and although assurance had been given by Japanese officials in several instances that Japan did not intend to take unnecessary military action, it seems that without there having been any change in the general situation, Japanese armed forces nine hours later, at midnight on January 28, attacked residential and business sections of the Chinese Municipality at Shanghai. This has greatly disturbed the peace of the whole port of Shanghai and interfered with the business of the port. It has jeopardized the safety of the International Settlement. The American Government is frankly at a loss to find justification or warrant for these activities. It feels constrained to protest against the use made in these circumstances of military force, and it is compelled to urge upon the Japanese [Page 166] Government that it restrain its agencies from a course which, causing constant additional loss of life and property, makes more complicated a situation already delicate and occasions apprehension to the governments and people of every country which has interests in and which feels concern with regard to the area thus affected.

Stimson