793.94 Conference/71: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
Tokyo, October 21, 1937—10
a.m.
[Received October 21—12:45 a.m.]
[Received October 21—12:45 a.m.]
484. Department’s 263, October 20, 11 a.m.16
- 1.
- My British colleague yesterday made renewed representations to the Minister for Foreign Affairs repeating the representations which he had made on October 15 in an endeavor to persuade the Japanese Government to participate in the Nine-Power Conference [at] Brussels. He advanced the argument that the Japanese case had gone by default at Geneva and that Brussels would offer a further opportunity to present Japan’s case which would be carefully considered by the assembled powers who wished above all to be helpful towards arriving at a peaceful settlement of the Sino-Japanese hostilities. The Minister replied that since his last talk with the Ambassador he had consulted a great number of prominent people here and that the sentiment against participation in the Conference especially among the leaders of the political parties was practically unanimous. However, as no invitation had yet been received no final decision had yet been reached.17
- 2.
- I have just telephoned to the Belgian Ambassador who informs me that he received the invitation for the Japanese Government at 8 o’clock this morning and that he is just now starting for the Foreign Office to present it. Bassompierre mentioned the “unaccountable delay” [in] receipt of the invitation.
Repeated to Nanking.
Grew