Office of the Historian

793.94/3781: Telegram

The Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton) to the Secretary of State

London, January 31, 1932—3 p.m.
[Received 6:30 p.m.6]

37. I have conveyed to Prime Minister as “my understanding of our telephone conversation this morning”:

(1)
That you agree to urgently reinforce American armed strength Shanghai;
(2)
That you are inclined to agree to take similar action in regard to the proposal of the Shanghai conference set forth in section 2 of my 36, January 31, 1 p.m., however, before definite decision you prefer to await receipt of reports from the American Consul General at Shanghai;
(3)
That State Department will telegraph me as soon as possible approximate strength present United States armed forces in Shanghai (Foreign Office understands at present this to be some 1,300).

Subsequent to my telephone conversation with you this morning British Government has instructed its missions in Nanking continents [sic] and Tokyo to urge upon the respective Governments to accept the proposals of the Shanghai conference referred to in second section of 36, January 31, 1 p.m.

In informal confidential Foreign Office conversation this afternoon I was informed that the Prime Minister has not as yet had time, in view of this morning’s urgent reports, to reach decisive decision regarding your 43, January 30, 8 p.m. However, Foreign Office reactions at present are as follows:

(a)
Situation has materially changed since you talked on the telephone with the Prime Minister last evening;
(b)
Note should be limited in length, preferably to one paragraph, and should more pointedly concentrate on Shanghai concerning which Japanese Government has already a “guilty conscience” rather than by possible implication include Manchurian situation which would [Page 143] weaken the effectiveness of a note directly dealing with present Shanghai imbroglio;
(c)
To be effective to the Japanese Government in its present state of mind the implied appeal in your draft on behalf of China and the Chinese should be eliminated.

Please realize the above reactions were given to me only for my personal information but I venture to repeat them as of possible value in your further deliberations.

Atherton
  1. Telegram in two sections.↩