793.94/4252: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Forbes) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 17—10 a.m.]
72. My telegram No. 70, February 16, 10 p.m. I have discussed the contents of this telegram with my French, British, Italian and German colleagues here and they agree that it represents their point of view. I have met no dissenting opinion. They were all emphatic that further representations in Tokyo at the moment would not be effective and might do harm.
With reference to the Department’s telegram 56, February 15, 6 p.m., the British Ambassador here has so far had no instructions. The French Ambassador stated that he had received instructions to inform the Foreign Minister that the French reserved all rights and objected to the use of the International Settlement as a base for warlike operations, which might endanger French lives and property. He did this orally today, he did not present any written protest or memorandum.
The Foreign Office gave out the gist of a telegram from the Japanese Ambassador in Washington in which he referred to a conversation with you58 to the effect that I was to be instructed to present a protest in Tokyo. As given to the correspondents here the Japanese Ambassador’s telegram contained the purport of your telegram No. 56, February 15, 6 p.m.59
- See memorandum by the Secretary of State, February 15, 1932, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 194.↩
- Cf. memorandum by the Secretary of State, February 17, 1932, ibid., p. 196.↩