793.94/3779: Telegram
The Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 31—4:10 p.m.]
39. Following communiqué was issued by Foreign Office tonight:
“A meeting was held this morning at which were present Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Chancellor of the Exchequer, First Lord of the Admiralty, Chief of Imperial General Staff and Vansittart. The situation at Shanghai was discussed and the military and naval positions considered. In addition to the three battalions already at Shanghai it was decided to despatch a warship from Hong Kong carrying a battalion of infantry and a battery of artillery in response to a request from Brigadier General Fleming for reenforcements. Naval force at Shanghai consisting at present of cruiser Cornwall, sloop Sandwich, and gunboats, will shortly be reinforced by arrival of cruiser Kent from Batavia; cruiser Suffolk from Hong Kong was due to arrive today.
At a meeting today at Shanghai which was presided over by the British Consul General at which the American Consul General was also present, together with the Japanese and Chinese commanders, it was proposed to establish a neutral zone between the Chinese and Japanese troops to be occupied by troops of the neutral powers which have forces in the International Settlement. The British Consul General has now been informed that the necessary arrangements should be made for the British troops to cooperate if the neutral zone can be established and the United States Government is being requested to take similar action.
The British Government is also urging the Japanese and Chinese Governments to accept the scheme for a neutral zone and to issue immediate instructions to their troops accordingly.”