Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, The Far East, Volume III

793.94119/525: Telegram

Tokyo , April 7, 1939—4 p.m.
[Received April 7—6:35 a.m.]

169. Department’s 84, April 5, 7 p.m., reported Japanese peace approach and Chungking’s 211, March 27, 11 a.m.36

1.: Reaction is “negative” to discreet inquiries. One reliable Japanese informant stated that my British colleague was authoritatively told before his departure for Shanghai that he need not look for any Japanese overture toward peace.
2.: The questions whether Japan will declare war against China in the event of a war in Europe and of her attitude toward Germany and Italy are being constantly watched by us and we are of the opinion that there would be no sound basis for making at this time a definitive estimate with respect to either question. Indications are growing stronger that it will be a specific objective of Japanese policy to avoid involvement in the European crisis and that as a European war would affect China’s international position no less than that of Japan, Japan will undertake no change in her China policy until the situation in Europe is crystallized.

Repeated to Shanghai for Chungking.

Grew