893.51/6790: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State
London
, January
30, 1939—8 p.m.
[Received January 30—6:30 p.m.]
[Received January 30—6:30 p.m.]
127. My 126, January 30, 7 p.m.88
- 1.
- When I saw Lord Halifax89 this afternoon he referred to tentative British plans for supporting Chinese currency reported in my 14, January 4, 6 p.m. He did not go into details but indicated that the possibility of this action is being actively examined particularly with a view to securing satisfactory assurances and guarantees from the Chinese. He indicated clearly, however, that there [they?] were reluctant to go into the venture without the support of the United States and said that Great Britain did not want to be left “holding the bag.”
- 2.
- In regard to possible counter measures, with respect to Japan (Embassy’s 13 [1390] of December 3, 3 p.m.90), I have received through the courtesy of the Foreign Office a copy of the communication recently sent to the Department through the British Embassy in Washington91 outlining in some detail tentative British views in regard to such measures. From private talks with officials who were concerned in the preparation of this report I have the impression that they are very desirous of an expression of opinion from the Department in regard to their memorandum; that they are extremely reluctant to embark on any policy or measures which would not offer more than a reasonable chance of success in accomplishing their purpose and that the efficiency of any such measures would in the British view depend very largely on the measure of American cooperation. It was also intimated that the British are not inclined to adopt measures so drastic that they would have the effect of “breaking” Japan. It would seem that their view is that a real crack-up in Japan might have more disastrous consequences to British interests in the Far East than even present conditions.
Johnson