Office of the Historian

793.94119/442: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State

Tokyo, August 18, 1938—1 p.m.
[Received August 18—7:45 a.m.]

542. My 539, August 16, 8 p.m.

1.
In view of the unfavorable atmosphere of his talk which was with the Minister for Foreign Affairs (described in my 543, August 18, 2 p.m.65) Craigie did not approach the question of good offices and he did not inquire concerning the importance of the five points mentioned by Tani in Shanghai.
2.
Craigie did, however, talk to the German Ambassador in a general way concerning the advisability of watching the situation in case an opportune moment for an offer of good offices might eventually appear. He did not inform the Ambassador of the démarches of the Chinese Government. Ott said that since his return from Berlin he had found the Japanese more determined than ever to proceed with the campaign and therefore he did not think the present moment opportune for an offer of good offices but he thought that such a moment might arise after the fall of Hankow which he considers inevitable and he agreed with Craigie that the door should constantly be kept open for such a step at a favorable time.
3.
Craigie likewise talked with the French Ambassador who, he says, thoroughly agrees with our estimates of the situation and does not consider the present moment opportune for an offer of good offices.

Repeated to Hong Kong for Chungking.

Grew
  1. Infra.↩