893.0146/694: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 13—2:08 p.m.]
1936. My 1901, September 11, 1 p.m. Leger informed me this morning that the French Government had sent a note yesterday to the British Government expressing the opinion that before the British troops should be withdrawn from the Tientsin area or other places in China the British and French Governments should consult the Government of the United States in Washington.
Leger added that this note had been crossed by an urgent note from the British Government which had reached him this morning which stated that the British Government desired to withdraw at once not only its soldiers from the Tientsin area; but also its naval vessels from the Yangtze.
The British Government was informed that whatever might be the policy of the Japanese Government the Japanese Army in China desired to provoke conflict with France and Great Britain and desired to reach an immediate agreement with both Germany and the Soviet Union.
The British Government was apprehensive that any day might bring action by the Japanese Army in China which might be the spark that would set off war between Great Britain, France and Japan. The British therefore desired to use the excuse of the floods in the Tientsin area to withdraw from that area and also desired to get the boats on the Yangtze out at once.
Leger added that the French Ambassador in Tokyo had telegraphed recommending that the French commanders of French naval vessels in Chinese waters should be given full discretion to accept demands of the Japanese if they should consider acceptance desirable.
Leger said that his own information indicated that the Germans were working with some success to bring together the Soviet Union and Japan. He did not believe that agreement had yet been reached between the Soviet Union and Japan but he believed that discussions were under way which might lead to agreement between the Soviet Union and Japan and might lead to a great intensification of pressure against the French and British in China.