793.94/9493: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 19—5:55 a.m.]
281. 1. My German colleague43 told me today that in a long conversation yesterday the Minister for Foreign Affairs assured him that the Japanese forces in Shanghai are willing and prepared to withdraw to their original positions and numbers provided that the Chinese troops also withdraw in accordance with the general proposals of the concerned powers. Hirota thought that such a mutual withdrawal should be accomplished in two steps: first, an armistice and cessation of firing; and second, negotiation as to localities of withdrawal. Hirota, however, thinks it highly unlikely that the Chinese will take favorable action and for the first time since hostilities began he gave von Dirksen an impression of pessimism. He reiterated his opinion that Chiang Kai-shek does not want war but that he is powerless to stem the tide.
2. When reference was made to the British proposal that the powers assume responsibility for the safety of Japanese nationals in Shanghai, the Minister said that he doubted very much if the powers possessed adequate forces to assume such responsibility.
Repeated to Nanking.
- Herbert von Dirksen, German Ambassador in Japan.↩