793.94/11639
The Navy Department to the Department of State88
The following information has been received from the Commander-in-Chief of the Asiatic Fleet as of 11:35 p.m., under date of 7 December, 1937, and was also sent for information to the American Ambassadors to Japan and China:
Because of fairness and neutrality shown, high Japanese officials have suggested suitability of the United States as mediator in present conflict[;] consider it inadvisable for the United States to accept this position because of the lack of basis for any settlement.
The Generalissimo and Madame Chiang left Nanking by plane today. The Japanese are concerned over future developments since there is no organized government at Nanking with which to deal. It is believed that no Chinese of any standing or ability will treat with the Japanese because of the nation wide feeling against them.
- Received in the Department on December 8.↩