793.94/14276a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)
373. (The substance of this telegram is to be communicated to the commander in chief by the American Consul General in Shanghai.)
The question of freedom of navigation on the lower Yangtze River was mentioned in your open-door note to the Japanese Government of October 6. Believing that the moment has arrived for the American Government to raise the broad, entire question of Yangtze River freedom of navigation with the Government of Japan, the Department wishes you personally to take up this matter in a vigorous manner with the Foreign Minister at the earliest opportunity. It is suggested that in your discretion you postpone this action for a few days to find out whether or not the French and British Ambassadors in Tokyo are instructed to make separate approaches along similar lines. This suggestion is made in view of the fact that the French and British Governments are being notified through our appropriate diplomatic missions of these instructions to you. Your presentation may be oral or by formal note in your discretion, but if you decide on the former an informal memorandum to serve as a record of your remarks should be left with the Foreign Minister. You should press for a reply of a favorable nature which should include the setting of an early date subsequent to which the Government of Japan will not impede free navigation of the Yangtze from Hankow to its mouth. The American Government will not be satisfied with an indefinite reply.
Your approach should be along the following general lines: Armed forces of Japan having now moved up the river to Hankow there remains no large-scale fighting on or along the banks of the river below Hankow. These forces have had ample time since arriving [Page 792] at Hankow to systematize movements on the river of national ships of Japan. Large numbers of Japanese vessels have gone up river to Hankow. According to information in possession of the American Government, on October 31 there were at Hankow about 600 small craft, 2 auxiliaries, 2 tankers, 2 mine layers, 2 mine sweepers, 3 torpedo boats, 3 gunboats, 1 hospital ship, 12 tugs, 20 supply ships, and 23 transports.
Inasmuch as we did not exercise our right to navigate the river freely during the period of active hostilities, we now regard it as only reasonable that the Government of Japan should from now on stop impeding the exercise of this American right and we can see no reasonable basis for the restriction by the Government of Japan of free navigation of the Yangtze River.
The Yangtze is a very important channel for the movement of vessels, goods, and persons; is Central China’s principal communication artery; and it is wide enough to provide for the traffic needs of all concerned.