793.94/5480: Telegram

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

209. 1. With regard to the proposal discussed in Peiping that in the event of Sino-Japanese hostilities developing south of the Wall [Page 568] the Japanese Government should be asked to withdraw its Legation guard from the Legation quarter, my British colleague on August 6th cabled London his opinion that not only would such a request be refused but it would cause great resentment and hostility in Japan. He therefore earnestly recommended that no such request be made.

Today the British Ambassador has received via Peiping a reply from Sir John Simon who says that if and when hostilities should develop south of the Wall he would favor combined representations to the Chinese and Japanese Governments asking that the immunity of the Legation quarter be respected. He, however, concurs with Lindley’s recommendation that no request be made in Tokyo for the withdrawal of the Japanese guard for the reasons stated by Ambassador.

3. I believe there is no doubt that in the present temper of the Japanese Government a request for the withdrawal of the Japanese Legation guard in Peiping would be futile.

Repeated to Peiping.

Grew