793.94/4141: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Forbes) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 12—9 a.m.]
64. Replying to your telegram No. 51, February 11, 4 p.m., the only details I can add to my telegram No. 51, February 7, 10 p.m., are that in endeavoring to work out a formula for some sort of basis for adopting your points in your telegram 34, February 1, 3 p.m.,22 to the objections raised by the Foreign Minister, I had Neville talk the matter over with the British Ambassador and endeavor to ascertain from his, Neville’s, contacts in the Foreign Office whether in their opinion any suggestions for a new basis had better originate apparently from Shanghai or from a concert of powers. All this was done [Page 300] solely with the idea of submitting the recommendations to Washington. I asked McIlroy to develop the same idea through his contacts with the same purpose. In doing this they made no proposition and said they were acting solely as individuals. Both Neville and McIlroy in talking merely urged most favorable consideration by the Japanese of the proposition submitted by you in your telegram 34, February 1, 3 p.m. Although received coldly at first, they were asked to come back later and the propositions submitted to you were given to them orally as what the Japanese felt they could do.
The net result of this proposition is that the Japanese are now willing to have the neutral zone, suggested in your telegram 45, February 6, 8 p.m., patrolled by neutrals and have abandoned their former position that they must participate in policing this zone. This was their principal concession and we do not understand they have receded from this.
I regret extremely if this has proved a position embarrassing to you. Our contacts here are now much more cordial and satisfactory, both in Army quarters and in the Navy where we learn Johnson reports a complete change in their attitude; and we are not conscious here of any change for the worse in the situation. The British Ambassador concurs in this.
The local situation is distinctly better in that the tension noted in our telegram No. 34, February 2, 9 p.m.23 seems to have died down. There is less uneasiness. In all our conversations with the Government and with individuals a more conciliatory tone is evident.