893.0146/798: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan ( Grew )
217. Reference your 438, June 11, 10 p.m., Shanghai’s 527, June 15, 3 p.m.,74 and Tsingtao’s 82, June 18, 2 p.m. Unless you perceive objection the Department suggests that you make informal comment to the Japanese Foreign Office, stating that the Japanese Government is now doubtless aware that the commanders of the British, Italian, and American forces at Shanghai are acting under a signed agreement in regard to liberty areas which was drawn up at the request of the Italian Commander in Chief. The Japanese Government is no doubt also aware of the arrangements made at Peiping and Tientsin in regard to liberty parties which are operating to prevent any disturbance between the Italian forces on the one hand and the British and French forces on the other in those places. Please say also that the American Commander in Chief, in reference to the agreement of the [Page 88] commanders of the British, French, and Italian forces in the vicinity of Shanghai, was acting primarily, in the interests of all concerned, as the representative of a power unengaged in hostilities although he also considered himself to be the senior officer present.
You might add that the Government of the United States is confident that the Government of Japan will share its satisfaction that these amicable and beneficial arrangements have been made.
Sent to Tokyo via Peiping. Repeated to Chungking and Shanghai.
- Telegram No. 527 not printed.↩