793.94/14197: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 26—11:38 a.m.]
687. 1. With reference to a memorandum said to have been submitted by the Japanese naval authorities in Hankow through the Japanese Minister in Shanghai requesting third powers speedily to move their vessels to previously specified anchorage in order to avoid unfortunate incidents by reason of their proximity to numerous junks with China troops aboard stated to be swarming in vicinity of neutral vessels anchored along the Hankow water front, my British colleague has today addressed the following letter to the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs:
“I have just received a telegram from the British Embassy in Shanghai, of which the substance is given in the enclosed document. Although I have not yet received official instructions in the matter, I think it only right to let you know without further delay that we must take the strongest possible exception to the communication stated to have been made in Shanghai by the Japanese naval authorities. The position of British vessels anchored along the water front in Hankow is fully known to the Japanese authorities, the vessels are adequately marked and, so long as there are British interests to be protected, British gunboats must remain there for the purpose. It would, in the circumstance, be entirely unwarranted for any further attacks to be made in the immediate neighborhood of any British vessels. As regards the reference to the ‘intensive character of the hostilities’, this was no doubt written before it was known that the Chinese Government would not defend the city of Hankow itself.
I think it only right to warn the Japanese Government, through Your Excellency, of the serious consequences which must, I fear, follow from any further attacks delivered in close proximity to British vessels on the Yangtze and I trust that the most explicit instructions will be sufficient [sent?] to the proper naval authorities to abstain from such action.”
2. Craigie has this moment written me “Perhaps you may see your way clear to making similar representations against an apparent intention [Page 193] of the Japanese naval authorities which bids fair to result in further incidents?”
3. Having heard nothing from our own representatives in Hankow or Shanghai with regard to this matter, I hesitate to act without authorization but a brief flash from the Department would ensure action tomorrow morning. The attitude of our Government concerning the safety of our vessels on the Yangtze has already been made perfectly clear to the Japanese Government. Naval Attaché concurs.
Repeated to Shanghai.