793.94/9314: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 12—1:55 p.m.]
537. My 532, August 9, 7 p.m. I saw the head of the Far Eastern Department at the Foreign Office this afternoon at his request. He showed me a telegram of August 10 from the British Chargé d’Aiffaires at Tokyo reporting that the American Ambassador had made the approach agreed upon to the Japanese Foreign Secretary and outlining very briefly what Mr. Grew had told him of the interview. It seems that the Japanese Foreign Secretary had stated to Mr. Grew that the Japanese Ambassador to China, now at Shanghai, had made proposals to an emissary sent him from Chiang Kai-shek which offered a possibility for opening of negotiations, provided a favorable reply was received from Chiang Kai-shek.
I was also shown a second telegram from the British Chargé of August 11, reporting that he had made a similar approach to the Japanese Foreign Minister the day before, following the action taken by the American Ambassador. The British Chargé reported that the Japanese Foreign Minister received his proposals with apparent interest and said that they would receive consideration. The Japanese Foreign Minister also told him in strict confidence that the Japanese Ambassador at Shanghai had held conversations with Kao, representing Chiang Kai-shek, and had suggested to him for transmission to Chiang Kai-shek that representatives of the two countries should meet together to discuss (1), a settlement of Sino-Japanese difficulties, and (2), possible measures for stopping the fighting in North China. Kao has returned to Nanking to consult with Chiang Kai-shek and the Japanese Ambassador is awaiting the reply. The Japanese Foreign Secretary intimated to the British Chargé that the Japanese realize that Chiang Kai-shek is in fighting temper but that he is surrounded by generals who do not want to fight, although the younger [Page 385] Chinese are, the Japanese Foreign Minister cautiously admitted, in fighting temper. He made no mention to the Chargé of the fact that he had been already approached by Ambassador Grew. The Chargé concluded his telegram by saying that in his opinion the démarche made to the Japanese Foreign Minister had been helpful and that the American Ambassador agreed with him. The Foreign Office feels that the tone of these two messages is slightly encouraging. Both have been repeated from Tokyo to the British Ambassador at Nanking for his information only. The Foreign Office has instructed the British Ambassador at Nanking by telegraph to urge upon Chiang Kai-shek the necessity for “keeping the door open”.