This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be kept under
LOCK and KEY.]
78
From JAPAN.
Decode
Sir R. Craigie (Tokyo).
8th September, 1939.
D.
6.55 p.m.
8th September, 1939.
R.
5.30 p.m.
8th September, 1939.
No. 1188. R.
*******
IMPORTANT.
R. Begins.
In order that I might have longer time with the Prime Minister than would have been possible at his reception yesterday it was arranged that my interview should take place this morning. I began by communicating to him your Lordship's message (your telegram No. 582) and Prime Minister asked me to convey his warm thanks and to say that view you had communicated coincided precisely with that of the Japanese Government who were most anxious to settle outstanding difficulties by friend-
ly intercourse.
I then proceeded to outline concrete steps which His Majesty's Government had in fact taken with a view to improving Anglo-Japanese relations, namely, agreement on formula of July 22nd, virtual agreement on all policing questions relating to Tientsin and final surrender of the four men after production of adequate evidence. These steps had provoked widespread criticism of His Majesty's Government not only in Great Britain but also in the United States. The fact of the matter was that, when relations between the two countries became strained,
the /