793.94/10983: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 4—5:12 p.m.]
696. An official of the Far Eastern Department of the Foreign Office stated this afternoon that they are examining possible policies and lines of action to be taken by the British Government in the event that Japan should make a formal declaration of war against China. The Foreign Office feels that such a possibility must at least be given theoretical study and consideration as events may take such a turn that a formal declaration of war by Japan would be to the latter’s advantage particularly in controlling shipments of arms to China since the declaration of war would naturally clothe her with full belligerent rights. The British have a very particular concern in this situation because, according to the Foreign Office, Hong Kong is the only port of importance from which arms may now be shipped to China. Tsingtao is still open but it is for all practical purposes at the mercy of the Japanese. The French have closed the railways of Indo-China to arms traffic and have so informed the British. The Portuguese have followed suit and have now closed Macao. The action of the French according to Foreign Office reports has greatly disturbed and angered the Chinese. The official said that although he did not of course know what action the British Government might take if Japan declared war on China, at the present moment it would seem to him that their best course of action would be simply to tell Japan “all right go ahead” and put a complete embargo on the shipment of all arms both to Japan and China. According to the Foreign Office British interests are in fact shipping practically no arms and ammunition to China whereas considerably larger quantities are being shipped to Japan, quite contrary to British sympathies.
The foregoing is repeated to the Department not as an indication of any immediate action being contemplated by the British but merely to show that study is being given to possible eventualities which may confront them in the formulation of policy.
Repeated to American delegation, Brussels.