793.94/9200: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 6—10 a.m.]
248. 1. In the course of an informal conversation with the Minister for Foreign Affairs at the Foreign Office today he said to me “As I told you some time ago Japan does not want war with China. If Chinese central troops which have come to Hopei Province will withdraw there will be no more fighting”.
2. I took this occasion to say to the Minister as on my own initiative and responsibility that if he ever saw ways by which I could be of help in the situation I hoped he would not fail to let me know.
3. This informal observation while involving no official commitment of any nature nevertheless indicates to the Minister that if our good offices should ever be desired a channel is open through which he could without embarrassment informally explore the ground.
Repeated to Nanking.