793.94/3782: Telegram
The Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
36. Following is substance of telephone message transmitted to you this morning:
“I have just come from Downing Street where Prime Minister and Secretary of State informed me latest news from Shanghai exceedingly grave and on information they have received have at this moment ordered a further 8-inch cruiser to sail from Hong Kong carrying to Shanghai reenforcements of one battalion and one battery. This makes one 8-inch cruiser already at Shanghai, a second 8-inch cruiser en route to Shanghai and a third 8-inch cruiser which has been [ordered] there this morning carrying this [sic] further reenforcements of one battery and one battalion. Prime Minister wants to know what forces American Government has at Shanghai and whether American Government will take the same measures the British have just done and urgently reenforce their fighting strength at Shanghai. The news from China indicates the Japanese have continued to use the International Settlement as base of attack and Chinese are doing likewise. Meanwhile Chinese reenforcements are arriving at Shanghai from Nanking and it is probable with the forces available the Japanese will be unable to cope with the situation they have brought about. Evidently the Prime Minister fears a massacre of foreigners in the International Settlement by undisciplined Chinese horde.[”]
Since leaving Downing Street Prime Minister advises me by telephone of Shanghai cables just received from British Consul General [Page 141] who reports a conference with his American colleague, the Japanese Admiral, the Chinese General and the Mayor of Shanghai has just taken place. At this conference it was suggested that each side withdraw to a certain distance and it was proposed the area east of the railway which was to be evacuated by the Japanese should be policed by neutral forces. There will be another meeting at Shanghai today when Defense Committee of commanders of the troops of the other nations will work out a scheme of defense. In the telegram British Consul General advises British forces should share in policing neutral area east of the railway even though possible dangers to troops may arise from sniping, et cetera, for “any other alternative seems fraught with terrible consequences.” Prime Minister says the British Government desire this and urges the American Government will do likewise. British Government is authorizing British Consul General Shanghai to proceed as is proposed with “the confident assumption American Government will act likewise.” British Consul General has been informed that British Government is urgently requesting the American Government to send the necessary authorization to the United States authorities at Shanghai at once in order that there may be the immediate cooperation demanded by the situation.
- Telegram in two sections; section two was sent at 1 p.m.↩