Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1937, The Far East, Volume IV

793.94/9810: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State

Tokyo, August 31, 1937—3 p.m.
[Received August 31—6:08 a.m.]

330. Department’s 178, August 29, 2 p.m.⁹⁰

1. All of my concerned colleagues to whom I circulated the recommendations from Nanking concerning Tientsin feel that since Japanese are in control in that city it would be superfluous and unwise to appeal to the Japanese Government to avoid aerial bombing there. We all feel representations in this case would merely tend to weaken our representations in other cases where real danger is involved. We therefore do not propose to take action.

2. My colleagues will be glad if Johnson will communicate the foregoing views to his concerned colleagues in Nanking.

3. As my instructions from the Department are to act for [in] association with my interested colleagues I likewise shall avoid making representations unless the Department desires me to take action alone.

Repeated to Shanghai for relay to Nanking.

Grew

90. Not printed; it repeated telegram No. 549, August 28, 7 p.m., from the Ambassador in China, p. 293.