893.811/1032: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 15—3:25 p.m.]
730. Department’s 388, November 14, 8 p.m.66 The following telegram which my British colleague will send to London tonight accurately reports the consensus of opinion of Craigie and myself [Page 201] reached in a long conversation today. I am not in a position to verify the facts concerning the precise situation on the Yangtze River set forth in his telegram but have no reason to doubt their accuracy. I recommend that I be instructed to address to the Minister for Foreign Affairs a note similar to but not identical with that proposed by the British Ambassador. I propose to express to the Vice Minister at a favorable opportunity surprise at the discourtesy of the Foreign Office in giving to the press a summary of the Japanese note of November 1467 before it had been delivered to the three Ambassadors.
I shall subsequently report the views of my French colleague with regard to the two steps mentioned above.
“Draft telegram to London.”
[“] Reply to the three notes says the same thing in different terms and is of course unsatisfactory. Unless there is a fairly strong reaction at home I fear that assurance in last paragraph in regard to efforts to ensure relaxation of the restrictions will remain illusory.
My United States colleague and I both think that matter should not be left where it is. Perhaps best course would be for a short reply to be returned by the three representatives along the following lines but with differing phrases:
Our Governments have noted with regret that the Japanese Government have not seen their way to comply with their reasonable request: particularly so since they are unable to accept the contention of the Japanese Government either that regular and advertised trade in Japanese vessels is not proceeding at the present time both up and down the Yangtze or that the exercise by foreign vessels of their right to participate in this trade would interfere with the operations now in course. As regards former point it might be mentioned during the months of August and September no less than 70 cases were reliably reported in which ordinary commercial merchandise was carried by Japanese merchant vessels trading up and down the Yangtze. On latter point it might be observed that Yochow which is now the lowest point on the Yangtze at which important operations are proceeding is 120 miles above Hankow and 360 miles above Wuhu and that particularly as regards the stretch between Wuhu and Shanghai the arguments set forth in the Japanese note are regarded as unacceptable. The three Governments take note of the assurance in the last paragraph but consider that with every day’s delay in rectifying the present state of affairs the seriousness of this discrimination against foreign rights and interests is intensified.
If agreement is reached to reply along these lines, my United States colleague and I suggest that, after despatch of these notes, the relevant correspondence should be published forthwith in each capital.
A summary of the Japanese reply was issued by the spokesman of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs before 2 p.m. yesterday although the text of the note was only received by us at 6 p.m. I propose at the first opportunity to represent to Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs [Page 202] discourtesy of this proceeding. My United States colleague will do the same.
I have not yet had an opportunity to discuss matter with my French colleague but will let you know his views later.”
Repeated to Shanghai for Chungking and the Commander-in-Chief.