firltiah Nationals   1118/ % /89
1
No. 1002.
BRITISH EMBASSY*
WASHINGTON, D.C.,
September 5 th, 1980*
My Lord»
I have the honour to transmit to Your
Lordship herein a copy of the State Departments
reply to the representations which were made to
then la accordance with the instructions contained
In your despatch Ho* 908 (P 8709/9918/10) of August
84th regarding the aotion to he taken by the British
military garrisons   at shanghai and Tientsin in the
event of a Japanese threat to the integrity of the
International Settlement in Shanghai and the British
Concession in Tientsin* and of war between Japan
and Great Britain or Prance.
8* The State Department's aide-memoire was
handed to a member of my staff by Dr. Hornbeck who
ashed that every eare should be taken to ensure
that its contents remained secret.   Dr. Hornbeck
explained that the united states authorities had
hitherto always made a point of declining to give
any indication of what their attitude would bo in
the event of either of the contingencies mentioned
arising and they were most concerned that no leakage
should occur.   In particular, they were especially
anxious that no indication whatever should be allowed
to reach the Japanese Government of the views of the
United States Government sinoe they felt that there
were/
VALM:FRHM:NT
The Right Honourable
The Viscount Halifax* K.Q.,
etc.,        etc., etc.
3
were definite advantages la keeping the Japanese
la a state of uncertainty as to the American attitude
9* Dr. Ho rate ok mat oa to call attention to
the seoond sentence of the third paragraph of the
State Department's aide-memoire where it is stated
that "they (the American landed armed forces In China)
are emphatically not intended to engage in combat
operations against authorised armed forces of any
nation".   He explained that this phrase was meant to
cover China as well as Japan though ho was at pains
to emphasise the use of the expression "authorised
armed forces" and to asks it clear that although the
paaaags implied that the American foroas would not
engage la operatloaa against the regular Chinese
Army, it did not mean that they would not take hostile
aotloa against Chinese irregulars or bandits.
4. Finally, Dr. lornbeok pointed out that la
their reply to His Majesty's Government's enquiry
about the attitude of the United States Government
la the event of the British garrisons at Shanghai
and Tientsin   being compelled to lay down their arms*
the State Department had gone farther than had been
suggested and had indloated that they would be ready
to suggest to the Japanese Government not only that
the British troops might be Interned but that they
might be evacuated under American auspices.
Z have the honour to be,
with the highest respect,
I4y Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient,
humble servant,
(MB) I0THIAI