793.94/4103: Telegram
The Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 10—2:30 p.m.]
59. Apparently to forestall questions for necessity of further representations to Tokyo, and yet at the same time to have a clear record before the House of Commons, Mr. Baldwin, in reply to a question, stated yesterday:
“His Majesty’s Government have on three occasions made it clear to the Japanese Government that they could not approve of the use of the International Settlement except for defensive purposes.”
In referring to the above statement today Vansittart said the British Consul General at Shanghai favored the creation of a neutral zone since it offered the greatest safety to the International Settlement and the Foreign Office desired for the moment anyway to leave attendant matters in the hands of the men on the spot, particularly since the arrival of Admiral Nomura.