893.515/444: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 6—12:15 p.m.]
94. Referring to “garbled versions of American and British intentions” which have been cabled from Washington to Tokyo, in an obviously inspired article today the Times refers to the recent discussions in Washington and states, inter alia “The British Government have called the attention of the American, French and Japanese Governments to the difficulties under which China is laboring, though it may be presumed they did not lay great stress on the silver question in Washington. All three governments have now expressed their readiness to consider any practical proposals to safeguard Chinese currency in the interests of international trade.”
The Foreign Secretary informed me yesterday that origin of British démarche lay in representations made to him by the Chinese Minister a fortnight ago on the present plight of China. Simon informed the Chinese Minister that while he would be prepared to suggest to the interested powers discussions, it must be on some specific proposals and not on China generally. Therefore after a preliminary démarche (Department’s 41, March 2, 4 p.m.70) no further action could be expected until Nanking made definite suggestions for consideration by the interested powers.
In conversation with Wellesley on Monday he also expressed the above point of view but left me with the impression that out of this [Page 558] present initiative Great Britain would welcome a Sino-Japanese rapprochement which they regard as a preliminary to facing reality in regard to the present Manchukuo situation.
I also saw the Chinese Minister on Monday who stated he was awaiting instructions from his Government in reply to Simon’s suggestion that Nanking present concrete proposals but that he personally felt the situation was such in Nanking today (presumably in view of the weight of Japanese representations being made there) that he did not feel the Chinese Government could take any initiative in making proposals, and that the impetus must come either from London or Washington. He told me by way of illustration Nanking had pointed out to him recently that any strongly anti-Japanese sentiments he now uttered here might perhaps serve a useful purpose in London but he must remember a slap to Japan in England very often meant as a result a blow in the belly received by Nanking from Japan.
Memoranda of these conversations going forward today.72