893.102 Tientsin/246: Telegram
The Consul General at Tientsin (Caldwell) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 12—10:52 a.m.]
89. Tokyo’s [Departments] 156, June 8, 3 p.m. I have used and shall continue to use my good offices, whenever opportunity offers, [Page 177] without meddling or taking sides in the dispute between the British and the Japanese, to effect a settlement of their dispute, primarily in an effort to avoid or at least ameliorate the inconveniences and loss to Americans and the American concessions sure to be caused by the impending Japanese military restrictions on the boundaries of the British and French Concessions, but I am convinced that nothing can be accomplished here now in the way of a settlement of the difficulties.
I am assured categorically that the local British authorities are disposed to make some concession to the Japanese but that instructions from London make this [impossible].
The Japanese state that they are determined to put into effect the restrictions from June 14 and it is useless for any one here to urge them to adopt any other course unless the British will yield at least to some extent.
I am assured informally that I will receive a letter today regarding the imposition of the restrictions and the arrangements for passes for Americans concerning which I will report later.
Sent [Repeated] to Peiping, Chungking, Shanghai and Tokyo.