793.94/10456
The British Embassy to the Department of State64
The United States Government will be aware that there is a strong feeling growing not only in Great Britain but in other countries that some effective action should be taken to put a stop to the conflict in the Far East, if such action could be agreed upon internationally. At present this pressure, though not yet fully formulated, seems to be taking shape that a lead should be given by the United Kingdom and the United States in some form of economic boycott on Japan. The British Government would be glad to know what is the attitude of the United States Government to such views. The British Government recognise that it would not be reasonable to ask the United States Government about their attitude without informing them of the British attitude. This is as follows: The British Government would be ready to consider this or any other action likely to curtail the present conflict, but only if they were convinced of the effectiveness of whatever course might seem advisable.
At present the British Government are not convinced that the sort of action suggested in Great Britain would be effective, but they would be quite prepared to examine it further themselves or with the United States Government if the latter consider it worth pursuing. The British Government recognise that action by them alone would certainly not be effective and for this reason they would be grateful for an expression of the views of the United States Government.
- Handed by the British Chargé to the Secretary of State on October 1.↩