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

793.94/4227

Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hornbeck)

[Washington,] February 13, 1932.

I have spoken to the British Ambassador and have informed him of the information contained in Shanghai’s 43, February 13, 1 p.m.; also that we think that the position taken by the American Consul General at Shanghai is the correct one and that we are telegraphing the Consul General approving the position taken by him.

The British Ambassador stated that he had received subsequent to our conversation of February 3 (4?) no further information on the matter.

I stated that it was obvious that the decision reached by the British Consul General and that reached by the American Consul General were opposites; that we regretted this, as we had instructed our Consul General to confer with the British Consul General and try to arrange for the same course to be taken by both.

The Ambassador said that he also regretted it, but it looked as though the American Consul General’s decision were sound. He thanked me for informing him and said he would inform his Government.

S[tanley] K. H[ornbeck]