Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1932, The Far East, Volume III

793.94/3933½

Memorandum of Trans-Atlantic Telephone Conversation⁵⁴

February 4, 1932, 4:35 p.m.

Secretary: Hello, Mr. Atherton.

Mr. Atherton: I received your telegram today⁵⁵ which gives an estimate of the situation and which I was to read to the Foreign Minister. I read it to him over the telephone this evening and he made a new fifth point which I thought I might call you up and tell you of and then he wanted me to say that after I gave you these five points if you wanted to call him back you could reach him at 8877 Park because he goes to Geneva tomorrow in the middle of the day and as it is on the eve of his departure he will consider the necessary instructions being issued tomorrow before he goes to Geneva. Secondly, he said that they had very precise information on how touchy the Japanese Government was on pressure being brought to bear and he told me that was another reason for an absolute Anglo-American unity and whether it would not be wise to omit Manchuria from any forthcoming representation to Tokyo and …⁵⁶ of the Shanghai area and China proper. The fourth one was that he thought the Anglo-American Governments might find it well for them to point out to Japan that outside intercession might be very valuable to the Japanese to have the Chinese boycott removed. He thought that Japan could make the approach itself. He said he hoped very much to get in touch with you while he was in Geneva.

Secretary: Has he any further information of troop movements?

Mr. Atherton: He has nothing beyond what I gave you.

Secretary: No information of movements of infantry?

Mr. Atherton; He didn’t say that this evening over the telephone.

Secretary: We have various lines of information which indicate that the Japanese are very possibly moving a division over there and there is a flash from the press that they have landed four thousand men but where, we do not know.

Mr. Atherton: Will you talk with Sir John over the telephone this evening or not, Sir?

Secretary: I think perhaps you can give him all that I know. We think that it is quite possible that the Japanese are moving a division to drive off these troops in the neighborhood of Shanghai. As I say, the indications are that a portion of that may be already landed. It is possible that they may have landed at the Woosung Forts where they were bombarding yesterday. We rather think that is possible. In that case, if they have done it, which would be a simple military movement for them to execute, it would be to move up the Railroad toward Shanghai taking the Chinese force on the flank and either driving them off or into the Settlement. You see?

Mr. Atherton: Yes, Sir.

Secretary: It is quite a serious situation. On the other hand there may be still further, though we don’t know this at all, even larger movements in progress. It is not impossible that there may be still larger movements still in progress. We don’t know that but we have some stories that indicate that may be so, but there is a good deal of evidence about at least twelve thousand infantry being on their way. Yoshizawa said that yesterday in his conference with the three Ambassadors. He did not say that they were on the way but said they would have to move them, and I think they were already on the way. You see?

Mr. Atherton: Yes, Sir.

Secretary: I think you better call Sir John up yourself and give him this information.

Mr. Atherton: Yes, Sir.

Secretary: Of course, Yoshizawa said that this was done simply to protect their situation in Shanghai and it is not at all unnatural for them to do that because they were in a difficult position and this would be the surest way out of it from a military standpoint. I have no knowledge of what more they may be doing but I should like to have that go to Sir John and if he has any reaction he can call me up.

Mr. Atherton: I see, you have the idea.

Secretary: Don’t you see I have nothing further to tell him than what I told you. Tell him I appreciate his three messages and his four points and that is all right. Particularly, it is very important that we keep together step by step as he suggests and that I shall do that. I am very sorry he is going away; how long will he be gone?

Mr. Atherton: He will be back as soon as he can because he is very much needed here.

Secretary: About what day?

Mr. Atherton: He does not know, but he will be back as quickly as he can—as short a time as he consistently can.

Secretary: Tell him I wish he was not going until the day after tomorrow because something may turn up tomorrow. We have intimations that there may be rather large news tomorrow.

Mr. Atherton: Very good, Sir.

Secretary: Can you get that to him. I have nothing definite on that last at all but it is just as well for him to know it.

Mr. Atherton: I will convey that to him tonight.

Secretary: If he wants to call me I shall be available here or at home until 8:30 tonight our time.

Mr. Atherton: Good-night, Sir.

Secretary: Good-night.

54. Between Mr. Stimson in Washington and Mr. Atherton in London, February 4, 1932, 4:35 p.m.
55. Telegram No. 54, February 4, noon, p. 209.
56. Apparently poor telephone connection at this point.