Office of the Historian

793.94/3948: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Forbes) to the Secretary of State48

Tokyo, February 4, 1932—10 a.m.
[Received via Shanghai, February 9—11:22 p.m.]

39. (Section 2.) The British Ambassador has cautioned his Government that in his opinion the Japanese military, if a threat of economic boycott were made, might endeavor to forestall the movement which would spell their ruin by an attack on other Chinese ports including Hong Kong and he has urged them not to join in any such move until entire defensive arrangements are made. He thinks we should take similar action.

Forbes
  1. Forwarded by the Consul General at Shanghai with explanatory note: “Foregoing was received by mail February 10, 10 a.m., from Tokyo with request to forward to the Department. Cunningham.” For first section of telegram, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 180.↩