Office of the Historian

793.94/8993: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Japan (Grew)89

Washington, July 27, 1937—7 p.m.

130. Department’s 128, July 27, 1 p.m.90 Counselor of Japanese Embassy called at the Department this morning,91 gave miscellaneous information about recent clashes, stated that the Japanese Government had ordered reinforcements to be sent from Japan Proper to China, said that the Chinese were in various ways aggravating the situation and that his Government was continuing to exercise self-restraint.

The Counselor inquired whether the Department had any important news. He was told that we had received a report, for which we could not vouch but which had the appearance of authenticity, to the effect [Page 276] that the Japanese forces were contemplating launching a general attack against Chinese forces both in and around Peiping; that we felt that such an attack, if made, would be attended with great hazards, jeopardizing lives of non-combatant population among whom there were a considerable number of foreigners, most especially of concern to us more than 700 Americans; that such action endangering or destroying foreign lives would produce an unfavorable reaction throughout the world; that it would be taking place on Chinese soil and in a region where the treaty powers, including Japan, have special and common rights and obligations. Mention was made to him of the Japanese Government’s assurance that it is prepared to give full consideration to the rights and interests of the powers in China. He was told that the lives of our nationals are with us a very important interest and that we wanted to ask that the Japanese Government give most serious consideration to all the implications and possibilities which might flow from such action if taken. Also, in repetition, that we were not charging or affirming intent but that if such action is even in contemplation it seemed to us better to ask this before it happens.

Hull
  1. Repeated on the same date as telegram No. 139 to the Ambassador in China, with reference to a similar previous telegram (No. 138, July 27, noon, not printed).↩
  2. Vol. iv, p. 238.↩
  3. See memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs, July 27, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 334.↩