793.94/9707: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 26—11:35 a.m.]
317. Embassy’s 314, August 25, 6 p.m.69
1. Replying to my letter, the British Chargé d’Affaires today informs me that on August 25 he addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs a letter in the following terms:
“My Dear Minister: I have today received from my Government a telegram instructing me to approach Your Excellency with the request that the Japanese Government should agree to declare Tsingtao a safety area on the basis that Chinese troops will not advance beyond a determined line provided that the Japanese agree not to land forces.
In view of the large numbers of British nationals, including women and children, now at Tsingtao whose lives would be endangered and the evacuation of whom would involve great difficulty and hardship, His Majesty’s Government consider that every effort should be made to avert hostilities in this area.
His Majesty’s Ambassador at Nanking has received instructions to approach the Chinese Government in the same sense”.
2. The French Ambassador informs me that on August 25 he addressed to the Foreign Minister a note referring to the action of the five Ambassadors and expressing the hope that all hostilities in and about Tsingtao be avoided. The German Counselor made similar oral representations at the Foreign Office, according to the German Ambassador. The Italian Ambassador stated his Counselor supported the recommendation.
3. Although my note No. 780 of August 23 (Embassy’s 297, August 23, 1 p.m.) as authorized by the Department was comprehensive and forceful, acting under the authority of Department’s 163, August 24, 4 p.m., for the purpose of a united front in representations regarding Tsingtao I have today sent to the Foreign Minister an informal note associating my Government with my colleagues in support of their recommendation.
[Page 479]4. The German Military Attaché has today been informed at the War Office that the situation at Tsingtao is now much less dangerous than a few days ago.
Repeated to Shanghai for relay to Nanking.
- Not printed.↩