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

793.94/9043: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Secretary of State

London, July 28, 1937—8 p.m.
[Received July 28—3:18 p.m.]

509. My 505, July 27, 1 p.m. Johnson³ telephoned the Department’s 320, July 27, 6 [1] p.m., to Vansittart last night.

I saw Eden⁴ at his request this afternoon. He showed me a telegram from the British Ambassador in Tokyo stating hostilities had actually begun but that he had been assured by the Japanese Foreign Minister that foreign nationals would be protected in lives and property as far as possible,⁵ and that he, the Foreign Minister,⁶ had telephoned the Mayor of Peiping, informing him the Chinese troops within the city must be withdrawn although it could be done gradually and without the ultimatum of a time limit. The Mayor had likewise been informed that there would be no fighting in Peiping which might endanger foreign nationals unless Chinese troops remained in the city and attempted to resist the Japanese.

Eden then gave me to read a telegram from the British Ambassador in China stating hostilities had begun at 3:30 this afternoon but so far there had been no attack on or within Peiping itself. Eden stated that he had asked the French to make the same sort of recommendations at Tokyo which had been requested of you (my 505, July 27, 1 p.m.) and that the French had done so. He then showed me a despatch from the British Ambassador in Rome reporting a conversation with Ciano⁷ in which Ciano had said that Italy and Germany had both complied with the British request to make representations to the Japanese and had urged moderation.

He then gave me to read a telegram from the British Ambassador in China reporting a conversation with the Soviet Chargé d’Affaires in which the latter stated the Japanese were doing just what he had predicted on July 12th they would do, that is, take possession of the five North China provinces and then make representations to foreign governments in the attempt to camouflage their purpose and further designs.

Eden referred to the fact that Germany was interested in the China situation because Germany’s trade with China ranked third after Japan and the United States; Germany, therefore has a material interest in preserving the status quo. He declared that when Dr. Kung⁸ was here the latter had told him of a conversation with Hitler in which Hitler had referred to the volume and value of German trade with China and therefore Germany’s interest in hostilities in North China being avoided.

Eden said that he had been in conference with the Prime Minister⁹ this morning and that both the Prime Minister and he wished us to have everything his Government knew and explained that he had sent off the instructions to Tokyo mentioned in my telegram 505, July 27, 1 p.m., without notifying me beforehand because he felt no time should be lost. He asked again for advice as to what further steps, if any, could be taken and gave me a copy of the telegram sent to Lindsay¹⁰ on July 20 reading as follows:

“His Majesty’s Government are gravely preoccupied by recent developments in Far East and have been considering whether one more effort cannot be made to avert hostilities which may have far-reaching consequences. In the circumstances we should be willing to make with the United States Government joint approach to Japanese and Chinese Governments and ask them to agree:

(1) to issue instructions that all further movement of troops be suspended;

(2) to agree that the United States Government and ourselves should put forward proposals in attempt to end existing deadlock.”

He stated that, in view of the changed circumstances, he now wished to renew this suggestion because there was nothing else he could think of doing, although he would welcome any suggestion from the United States Government. He further said that although such suggestions would probably be refused by the Japanese, he felt that it not only could do no harm but probably would do good in the long run.

Bingham

3. Herschel V. Johnson, Counselor of Embassy in the United Kingdom.
4. Anthony Eden, British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
5. See telegram No. 230, July 28, 5 p.m., from the Ambassador in Japan, vol. iv, p. 239.
6. For correction, see telegram No. 511, July 29, 7 p.m., from the Ambassador in the United Kingdom, p. 296.
7. Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs.
8. Chinese Minister of Finance, who attended British coronation ceremonies.
9. Neville Chamberlain.
10. British Ambassador in the United States.