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

793.94 Shanghai Round Table/20: Telegram

The Chargé in Japan (Neville) to the Secretary of State

Tokyo, May 27, 1932—noon.
[Received May 27—1:56 a.m.]

144. Department’s 119, May 25, 5 p.m.

1. I have seen the British Ambassador who has received instructions along the same general lines as those of the Department. Neither of us has approached the Foreign Office here.

2. For the time being I doubt the advisability of making formal reply to the Japanese Government. I do not know how far the new Cabinet³¹ is in accord with the ideas advanced by Yoshizawa, and until some indication on this point is given I feel that the matter might be allowed to rest. There will be a session of the Diet in all probability early next week and it appears improbable that Viscount Saito would be able to give this question adequate attention until his domestic political program is in hand.

3. It seems to me that the question of a general conference as envisaged in the Department’s telegram, paragraph[s] 2, 3 and 4 should be very carefully studied before being broached. The Japanese in their present temper will not talk about Manchuria with anyone, and the Chinese apparently calls [call?] for talk about nothing else. The prospect of any satisfactory conference being arranged therefore seems remote.

Neville

31. Headed by Admiral Viscount Makoto Saito as Prime Minister and concurrent Minister for Foreign Affairs.