793.94/11809: Telegram

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

682. Our 672, December 23, 4 p.m.

1.
My British colleague, when sending me a copy of his informal note to the Foreign Office on the Hankow safety area, informs me that he has received further instructions, as follows:
  • [“](a) To ask the Japanese Government to consider Killing as a place of refuge and to take no action which might endanger the safety of British and other foreign nationals;
  • (b) To inform the Japanese Government that we look to them to give prior warning in the event of any area on the Yangtze becoming a danger area and to indicate to us the zones in which our nationals and shipping could be concentrated under a guarantee of safety. I am at the same time to remind the Japanese Government that we claim absolute freedom for our ships to move and trade freely on the river.”
2.
Craigie inquires whether I have information or instructions which would enable me to make representations on the above lines.

Repeated to Shanghai for relay to Johnson.

Grew