793.94/10197: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 22—10:02 a.m.]
400. Department’s 219, September 20, 7 p.m., proposed bombing of Nanking. Following are the instructions from London upon which my British colleague based his representations to the Minister for Foreign Affairs yesterday.
“Nanking telegram No. 466. Argument based on the absence of a state of war is open to the objection that the Japanese Government could meet it by declaring one which we do not wish to (happen).
You should, however, inform the Japanese Government immediately that His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom cannot accept the view that the city of Nanking in general as distinct from military establishments outside is a legitimate target for air attack. Any attack not confined strictly to military establishments outside cannot fail to endanger civilian lives which the Japanese Government state that they do not wish to do. Nor can His Majesty’s Government admit that the Japanese Government have any right to expect foreign diplomatic representatives and other nationals to vacate Nanking in order to avoid such danger or to move warships which may be there for the purposes of protection of their nationals and to maintain essential communications of His Majesty’s Embassy. They must reserve the right to hold the Japanese Government responsible for any injury to British lives and property as a result of any attack that may be made. Acting for the Secretary of State.”
I have informed my British colleague of the action already taken by me and of Mr. Moore’s conversation with Saito.41 We understand that Hirota called yesterday on the Emperor just before Craigie42 interview with the former and we are hopeful that the strong representations made in Washington and Tokyo may possibly prove to have some effect.
Repeated to Shanghai for Nanking.
- See memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs, September 20, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 502.↩
- Sir Robert L. Craigie, British Ambassador in Japan.↩