793.94/12507: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
Tokyo, February 24, 1938—4
p.m.
[Received February 24—10 a.m.]
[Received February 24—10 a.m.]
129. Shanghai’s 39, January 7, 11 p.m.59 and our January 13, 4 p.m. to Shanghai,60 reference Hankow safety zone.
- 1.
- Craigie has recommended to his Government that the terms of the Japanese undertaking to refrain from attacking the safety zone be communicated to the Chinese Government. He believes that “if we fail to pass on to the Chinese authorities the Japanese proposals in respect of a safety zone, we not only discourage the Japanese from making conciliatory suggestions in future but give them a pretext for maintaining the powers have failed to cooperate in their humanitarian efforts.”
- 2.
- In his letter to me Craigie refers to the Japanese undertaking as an “offer” and apparently assumes that an explicit engagement by the Chinese Government to fulfill the Japanese conditions is necessary before the Japanese undertaking become binding on the Japanese Government. The Japanese note to us of January 11 reported in our January 13, 4 p.m. via Shanghai does not so indicate. The question whether or not our Government should make representations to the Chinese Government in the matter is one which the Department may wish to decide in consultation with Johnson.
Repeated to Shanghai for Hankow.
Grew