793.94/9151: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham)
353. Department’s 347, August 13, 7 p.m.20 On August 13 the British Ambassador called upon the Under Secretary and left a memorandum21 containing the text of instructions which the British Government has sent to its diplomatic representatives at Nanking and at Tokyo directing its representatives to impress on the Chinese and Japanese Governments once more in the strongest terms the importance of avoiding hostilities at Shanghai.
On the same day but prior to the call of the British Ambassador, the Secretary in a conversation with the Japanese Ambassador urged emphatically that combat operations between Japanese and Chinese at Shanghai if engaged in would involve terrific hazards to all concerned and that regardless of technicalities, of argument over rights, or contention of who was at fault, the world would consider each and both sides responsible if the Shanghai region is made a theater of battle.
On August 14 the Counselor of the Japanese Embassy called on the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs, and Hornbeck, speaking under authorization, reiterated what had been said by the Secretary on the previous day, emphasizing the point that the military situation at Shanghai is a situation to the making of which both Japan and China have contributed and for which neither country can, in the opinion of this Government, repudiate responsibility. This view thus communicated here on the 13th and 14th coincides with that expressed in the text of the instructions which the British Government has sent to its diplomatic representatives at Nanking and at Tokyo.
The Department has again instructed our Ambassadors at Tokyo and Nanking to take advantage of the first possible opportunity to present the view to the Japanese and Chinese Governments that if the Shanghai region is made a theatre of battle neither side can divest itself of the responsibility by accusing the other. They have been authorized, however, to use their own discretion both as to action and as to substance.
Please inform Foreign Office orally and informally.