793.94/3922
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
This morning I sent for the Japanese Ambassador. I told him that I had received a cable from Tokyo describing the Foreign Minister’s interview with Mr. Forbes and also with the British Ambassador and the French Ambassador yesterday.9 I read him the paragraph from Forbes’ telegram describing the Foreign Minister’s request that the United States use its good offices to induce the Chinese troops not to bring up further reinforcements. I told the Ambassador that I regarded this as an important request arid was hard at work taking it under consideration and trying to carry it out and that while I was doing so I had just this morning received a telephone message from the Navy telling me that in the middle of the night at Nanking the Japanese war vessel had opened fire on the city. While I was talking with him, the following message was brought to me from the Navy: From the U. S. S. Simpson at Nanking, dated 11:30 p.m., February 1:
“Japanese vessels continue firing on Nanking. Have shifted berth to get out of line of fire. Firing continues intermittently. No warning was given.”
I told him that this conduct would gravely interfere with our efforts and good offices and that the firing should be stopped at once if any good effects were to ensue.