793.94112/66: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 14—1:27 a.m.]
368. Embassy’s 363, September 12, noon.9 The British Ambassador10 yesterday called on the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and presented a memorandum covering his instructions concerning the marking of merchant vessels. The Vice Minister replied that while he took no exception to the Ambassador’s raising these points of international law, nevertheless the action appeared superfluous because the Japanese forces had no intention of attacking neutral merchant ships whether marked or not. The Japanese Government had recommended plain marking merely to make assurance doubly sure and in order that the Japanese planes might give such ships a particularly wide berth and so that possible accidents might be avoided. The Vice Minister said that the Foreign Office would reply to the Ambassador’s memorandum within a few days.
- 2.
- Craigie tells me that he conveyed his instructions not only to me but to our French, German and Italian colleagues as well and that they are consulting their respective Governments. He considers the action directed by his Government as “using a sledge hammer to drive in a tack.”
- 3.
- In view of the foregoing the Department may consider action by me unnecessary. If affirmative instructions nevertheless cross this telegram I shall await a reply to this message before acting.
Repeated to Shanghai for communication to Commander-in-Chief and relay to Nanking.