793.94/7082
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Phillips)
The British Ambassador called this morning at my request. I said that I desired to keep in close touch with him regarding developments in the Far East, and that, accordingly, I wished to read to him certain telegrams which had come in from Tokyo since our last talk. I then read to him Mr. Grew’s telegrams Nos. 129, 130,85 and 131.86 It was evident, I said, that, since Ambassador Clive had not, in fact, made his representations to the Foreign Office along the lines of his instructions, the question which he (Sir Ronald) had raised with me on Saturday with regard to representations from the American Government did not require an immediate answer; that our respective Ambassadors were in close touch and in absolute agreement in the present situation, and Sir Ronald admitted that this was so. In view of Mr. Grew’s No. 131, Sir Ronald agreed that undoubtedly Ambassador Clive was awaiting further instructions from London before calling upon the Japanese Foreign Minister.
Thereupon I informed Sir Ronald that, shortly after his call upon me on Saturday, the Japanese Ambassador had called upon the Secretary of State and had given certain information to the Secretary under instructions from his Government and that I desired to give Sir [Page 257] Ronald the substance of this information. I then read to him paragraph three of our telegram No. 93 to Mr. Grew,87 which contained the report of this conversation. I added that, in the circumstances, we did not feel that we were in a position to make any representations as yet to the Japanese Government; that, in view of the conflicting reports which were coming from China and Japan, it was apparent that we did not have a clear knowledge of the situation; that, in any event, we felt that we must proceed with the utmost caution and that this was evidently the judgment of our respective Ambassadors in Tokyo.
Sir Ronald thanked me for the information, and, in particular, for informing him of the Secretary’s remarks to Ambassador Saito. Before concluding the interview, I said that I would like to keep closely in touch with Sir Ronald on all aspects of the situation and would be happy to show him such telegrams as seemed particularly pertinent. The Ambassador expressed his thanks and appreciation.