793.94/8202
Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hamilton)
The British Chargé, Mr. V. A. L. Mallet, called by appointment. The Chargé met Mr. Grew just outside Mr. Hamilton’s office and suggested to Mr. Grew that, as the subject which he had in mind related to the Far East, perhaps Mr. Grew would care to be present. Mr. Hamilton had previously arranged with Mr. Grew that, should the British Chargé’s call relate to the present state of relations between the Chinese and Japanese Governments, Mr. Grew would come in during the call of the British Chargé. Accordingly, Mr. Grew was present throughout the entire interview.
The Chargé left with Mr. Hamilton the attached aide-mémoire dated September 3021 informing the Department of the instructions which the British Government had issued to the British Ambassadors at Tokyo and at Peiping to approach the Japanese and Chinese Governments respectively, in regard to the present state of Sino-Japanese relations. Mr. Grew and Mr. Hamilton read the aide-mémoire. Mr. Hamilton then commented that, while we had received substantially the same information as that contained in the first paragraph of the British aide-mémoire, the Chinese Government had not officially given this information to the American Embassy in China.mr. Hamilton gave the British Chargé to read Nanking’s confidential telegram 285, September 29, 2 p.m., wherein Nanking reports information in regard to the proposals of the Japanese Government and the counter-proposals of the Chinese Government as obtained “from an authoritative source not in the Foreign Office”.
Mr. Hamilton then commented that the British aide-mémoire did not suggest that the American Government take action similar to that taken by the British Government. The Chargé replied that this was accurate and that his telegram, which he had received yesterday afternoon, merely asked him to inform the State Department.
Mr. Hamilton then called the Chargé’s attention to an item in the New York Times of today’s date from Tokyo to the effect that “Japan’s Military Seek New Control”. Mr. Hamilton said that, if this report were true, it would appear that the Japanese military were [Page 320] attempting to force the hand of and bring pressure upon Premier Hirota.
Mr. Grew and Mr. Hamilton then informed the Chargé that we appreciated the courtesy of the British Government in communicating this information to us; that we were following the situation carefully; that our Ambassador at Peiping considers that the situation is very serious; that we were of course desirous of protecting American interests and rights and of fulfilling our obligations; that the Department realized the importance of registering our position at each step and not allowing matters to go by default; and that in considering the matter of approaching the Japanese Government the time element and the form of approach were very important. We said that we wished to avoid action which would not only have no good effect but might be likely to have an adverse effect.
During the course of the interview Mr. Hamilton took occasion to point out to the British Chargé tactfully but clearly that we recognized the desirability of cooperating with the British (and other) Governments in situations where there were involved common interests, rights, and obligations, especially when provisions in regard to those common interests, rights, and obligations had been embodied in treaties to which both governments were party, but that, when the British Government merely informed us of action which it had already taken and gave no opportunity for an advance exchange of views as to the advisability of such action, we were sometimes placed in the position of having to choose between apparent non-support of the principle of cooperation and taking action which might seem inopportune. The Chargé stated that he appreciated this point.
Mr. Hamilton said that the Department would probably wish to telegraph our Embassy at Tokyo the substance of the British Embassy’s aide-mémoire and to ask for an expression of the Chargé’s opinion as to the desirability of the Embassy approaching the Japanese Foreign Office. Mr. Hamilton said that he could not say whether the Department would go further in the matter at this time until the matter had been referred to the Secretary.
Mr. Grew and Mr. Hamilton commented in regard to the possibility that the British Ambassador at Tokyo might not carry out his instructions immediately but might prefer first to consult his Government and to advance his own views. Mr. Grew and Mr. Hamilton pointed out that this had happened in the past in similar instances. The Chargé asked whether we would care to have him suggest to the British Government that his Government inform us of the British Ambassador’s views as to the arguments which might influence the Japanese attitude”. Mr. Grew and Mr. Hamilton indicated that information on this point would be appreciated.
- Not printed.↩