893.0146/625
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom are not opposed in principle to a gradual withdrawal of their military establishment [Page 56] in North China in the manner indicated in the communication made by the State Department on the 18th January, but they have to consider a danger which does not face the United States Government since there is no United States concession at Tientsin.
The Japanese military authorities in Tientsin recently demanded the surrender of a Chinese in the British concession on the ground of his anti-Japanese activities. They offered no evidence in support of their charge and the demand was refused. They then gave a time limit within which the man was to be surrendered and failing compliance they threatened to enter the concession and take him by force. On learning however that such action would be forcibly resisted the higher Japanese authorities explained that a misunderstanding had occurred.
In the light of this experience it is clear that a withdrawal or even a reduction of the British garrison would encourage further attempts of the same kind and possibly inflict the humiliation of violation or seizure of the concession. This being so, it is suggested that, unless the situation in North China deteriorates dangerously in the meantime, the question of withdrawal might be left for a general settlement which His Majesty’s Government hope that it may be possible to initiate at a later stage.
His Majesty’s Government’s views as regards the diplomatic establishments in North China are that these would constitute a useful bargaining counter and that their withdrawal might also await a general settlement if such a settlement is not forestalled by Japanese recognition of the new provisional government or by other decided action.
Should the United States Government nevertheless be in favour of an early withdrawal of diplomatic and military establishments in North China it is hoped that they may agree to discuss the matter further with His Majesty’s Government and the French Government to whom no further communication is being made by His Majesty’s Government at present.