893.515/1411: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 4—3:45 p.m.]
1122. A responsible official of the British Treasury also created an opportunity to indicate that an approach would be made to Washington. His version of the purpose of such an approach differed from [Page 443] that given by the Foreign Office official reported in the Embassy’s 1109, August 2, 4 p.m.96 in that he emphasized how helpful it would be if the United States could make any concrete suggestions as to how the gap between the British and Japanese objections as regards the Chinese currency could in practice be bridged. He also implied that the business interests wished to give the United States Government an opportunity at that time to define its attitude and its willingness or otherwise to take action so that there should be no misunderstanding if Great Britain alone at a later stage was forced to give ground. This official implied that the question of sending a written communication to Washington was under consideration.
Asked in effect whether the real purpose of any such note was to avoid the possibility of future criticism or for technical financial considerations, the official merely replied that the British Government could think of no acceptable workable compromise and hoped that the United States might have helpful ideas. Asked in effect whether if any such scheme could be worked out he thought it would be accepted and faithfully carried out by the Japanese, the official admitted that it was “doubtful”. He then went on to say that the Japanese were of course aware of the difficulty of Great Britain’s present situation and that since the Japanese merely respected force it was the availability of the American Navy which is [in?] the end would count.
- Not printed.↩