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

693.002 Manchuria/123: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)

Washington, June 28, 1932—5 p.m.

136. Your 173, June 28, 3 p.m.

1. On June 27 the American Embassy at London telephoned that the British Foreign Office was sending instructions to the British Ambassador at Tokyo in the sense of your telegram under reference, and that the British Foreign Office was sending to Washington, Paris and Rome a copy of its instructions to Tokyo with a view to the American, French and Italian Governments collaborating with the British Government. This afternoon the British Ambassador here informed the Department of the nature of the British Foreign Office’s instructions to Lindley.

2. The Department desires that, unless there have been material changes in the situation with regard to the Dairen customs, you take up this matter with the Japanese Foreign Office along the lines mentioned in your telegram under reference and in the same manner as that followed by your British colleague. However, as the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs has not made any statement to us in regard to maintenance of the integrity of the Chinese Maritime Customs, you should omit any reference to such a statement on his part.

3. Please inform Peiping, and report fully to the Department as to what you say.⁸³

Stimson

83. The Ambassador in Japan reported action taken; see telegram No. 177, June 29, 8 p.m., Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 92.