Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1937, The Far East, Volume III

793.94/8742: Telegram

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

Tokyo, July 13, 1937—9 p.m.
[Received July 13—1:45 p.m.]

196. 1. The British Chargé d’Affaires⁸⁵ today informed me that Eden had inquired of Bingham whether some combined Anglo-American démarche in Tokyo and Nanking would be favorably considered by the American Government. Dodds proposes to reply that any direct representations would be resented in Tokyo but that he sees no reason why the British representatives in Nanking and Tokyo might not simultaneously inquire of the Chinese and Japanese Governments whether they could in any way help at the present juncture.

2. Dodds’ feeling is that the Japanese Government might conceivably still welcome some method of avoiding general combat if they could do so without loss of face.

3. I see no reason why we should take action.

Repeated to Peiping.

Grew

85. James L. Dodds, Acting Counselor of Embassy in Japan.