893.0146/727
Memorandum by the Adviser on Political Relations (Hornbeck)
Reference, the British Embassy’s aide-mémoire of October 20 informing us that the British Government has come to the conclusion that it is “desirable to withdraw their garrisons from Tientsin and Peking as early as possible.”
See memoranda of conversations with Lord Lothian by the Secretary and by Mr. Hornbeck.96
See draft of a possible aide-mémoire in reply, here attached.97
See FE’s memorandum thereon.97
Mr. Hornbeck talked with Lord Lothian on the telephone this morning and, in pursuance of a suggestion made by the Secretary, called Lord Lothian’s attention to the fact that there are various indications of a relaxing by the Japanese of their pressure in China upon foreign interests. Lord Lothian said that he had noted some of these indications and that in a recent report to the British Foreign Office he had called attention to the import of those indications. Mr. Hornbeck said that, in the light of what the Secretary and he, Mr. Hornbeck, had said to Lord Lothian on October 20 and of the conversation just now held, we would not expect to make a written reply to the aide-mémoire under reference.