793.94/9470: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 18—9:35 a.m.]
279. 1. The British Chargé d’Affaires under instructions from his Government today presented to the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs the following pro memoria:
“If both the Chinese and Japanese Governments will agree to withdraw their forces including men of war from the Shanghai area and will both agree that the protection of Japanese nationals in the International Settlement and on the extra-Settlement roads should be entrusted to foreign authorities, His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom will be prepared to undertake this responsibility if other powers will join with them in doing so.
In putting forward this proposal His Majesty’s Government are actuated solely by the desire to keep the International Settlement free from hostilities and the commitments contemplated would be of a temporary nature to hold good during the continuance of the crisis.”
2. The Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs replied that this was a very important communication but (a) that he doubted the ability of the concerned powers with the forces at their disposal at Shanghai to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals and (b) that the Japanese Government might find it difficult to accept in face of Chinese aggressive tactics at Shanghai. The Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs said that Japanese reenforcements were ready to start from Japan but had not yet started, stating, Dodds pointed out, that if the British proposal could be accepted and put into effect it would become unnecessary for these reinforcements to sail. Favorable reaction from the Vice Minister was not forthcoming. Dodds inquired if the Japanese proposed to extend aggressive tactics to South China as well as in North China, The Vice Minister replied definitely in the negative. Dodds said that this was at least the fourth or fifth time that his Government had [Page 441] taken steps in Tokyo in an effort to bring about peace. The Vice Minister refrained from comment.
3. In this connection our 272, August 16, 6 p.m.,35 paragraph 2.
4. The Vice Minister said that the Japanese war vessel Idzumo had moved downstream and away from the Settlement wharves.
Repeated to Nanking.