893.00/6112: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Bancroft) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 29—8:48 p.m.]
55. Department’s telegram 35 of March 27, via Peking,26 and 36, March 28, noon. On March 27 British Ambassador asked if I had [Page 606] heard anything. He told me that Debuchi27 had just informed him that Foreign Office had no news of impending strife between Chang Tso-lin and Feng Yu-hsiang. Yesterday’s papers printed long denial by Chang that there was any unfriendliness, hostility, or disagreement between him and Feng or the government of Tuan Chi-jui. For the reasons you state I consider form of British suggestion to be objectionable. Another objection is that it might be taken that the suggestion was made after a consultation between Great Britain and the United States and that the powers should cooperate directly in framing a plan for united action as well as in carrying out the plan.
My suggestions are as follows: 1. That inquiry be made of France and Japan as to what information they have on the reported imminence of a conflict. Because of superior facilities Japan generally has received earlier and more accurate information concerning events in China than have the other powers. 2. That the United States ask Japan directly for suggestions. 3. That you then make your decision as to American policy. There does not seem to be anything in the present situation greatly different from the situation last fall when the understanding was that no action should be taken. See Embassy’s telegrams 226, September 9, 5 p.m., 227, 229, 242, 259, 270, 278, 314, 324 and my despatch number 91.28 Peking informed.