793.94/3989: Telegram
The Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 5—9:28 p.m.]
53. In conversation with Vansittart transmitting the substance of your telephone conversation this afternoon64 it appeared that your views and those of Sir John Simon were in reality not very dissimilar. Accordingly we have framed the note hereinafter quoted which Foreign Office is also telegraphing to Sir John at Geneva with the possibility it may form the basis of an exchange of views between yourself and him. Vansittart’s suggestion is that should something approximating [Page 229] this note meet with your approval and Sir John’s, it should form the basis of an identic note from the four powers to the Japanese Government and subsequently be made public. The text is as follows:
“On the request of the Chinese and Japanese Governments for good offices, the American, British, French and Italian Governments suggested the steps which they believed would not only terminate the critical situation at Shanghai but would ultimately set in course of solution the unhappy controversy between China and Japan out of which this situation has directly grown. The essence of this situation lay in the proposal for an immediate cessation of hostilities on the part of both China and Japan and the avoidance of further sacrifice of life.
The four Governments are grievously disappointed that while China has accepted unconditionally, Japan has not only declined but has sent troops to Shanghai which, unless every precaution including the institution of immediate negotiations is used, must tend to widen the conflict and intensify the dangers already so manifest.
The Commission of Inquiry set up under the League of Nations is, however, on its way. It will be borne in mind that the Commission was appointed with the assent of Japan and that its scope was at the request of Japan enlarged to cover such areas as Shanghai. Since the good offices of this Commission are available to both Japan and China, the four Governments anticipate that the Chinese and Japanese Governments will urgently invoke its assistance to solve the grave dangers of the present situation.
As regards the first three paragraphs of the Japanese reply, the Commission of Inquiry is being informed that the Chinese have accepted without reservation the proposals of the four Governments who confidently assume that the Japanese Government will modify its attitude accordingly and will instruct its representatives on the spot to be most moderate and conciliatory.”
Sir John Simon will reach Geneva the morning of February 6 at 9 o’clock Geneva time.