Office of the Historian

693.002 Manchuria/19: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham)

Washington, March 23, 1932—2 p.m.

112. For the Minister. Your March 22, 11 a.m.

1.
On March 11 the Department telegraphed the Embassy at London the substance of your March 10, 11 a.m.,25 with instructions to ascertain whether the British Foreign Office had similar information and whether in the event that the régime in Manchuria should attempt to assume full control of the customs service, the British Government would be willing to join in concurrent action in the form of objections and reservations to be filed simultaneously by the British and American [Page 622] representatives at Tokyo and at Nanking and by their consular offices in Manchuria.
2.
Under date March 12 the Embassy at London reported that the Foreign Office had received information corresponding with the information telegraphed by you in your March 10, 11 a.m., but that the Foreign Office could give no considered opinion before consultation with Sir John Simon who was then at Geneva.
3.
From paragraph 1 above, you will observe that the Department desires to act in the matter but is seeking, before doing so, to ascertain what, if any, action the British Government is disposed to take. This being the case, before taking another step, the Department desires that you inform the British Minister of the substance of your telegram under reference and of paragraphs 1 and 2 above and inquire of the British Minister what views he holds and whether he would be willing to inform you regarding correspondence between himself and his Government on the subject.
4.
Please report by telegram promptly.
Stimson
  1. Latter telegram not printed.↩