Page 40
Page 40
326
chance of acceptance by the other parties concerned, they should indicate in greater detail what their ideas are and advance them as their own. As usual, however, they want us to take the responsibility for a move that will immediately subject us to the gravest suspicion, while they remain at liberty to respond to it as they like.
If you will remember, a proposal for Anglo-Japanese action to prevent the collapse of the fupi was made in July 1938 and was turned down for the reasons mentioned above (see correspondence ending with Tokyo telegram No. 819 of the 6th July 1938 - F 7243/25/10 - copy sent to the Treasury on the 7th July).
It will be interesting to have Rogers' observations on the telegram as well as those of Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, but at first sight it seems to us to be just another political trap. If the Americans were willing to support the idea that would be another natter, but there is not the least likelihood of their doing so because of its political implications.
Fe shall also be interested to have your observations in due course.
yrs sincerely.
1
(Sgd.) ASHLEY CLARKE
Page 40
Page 40
Page 40Page 41