2O4 CHINA INCIDENT

and is still happening, the old friendship between our two countries
will emerge unscathed. I think you know how hard I have been
working to that end.

This letter is, as I have emphasized, personal and confidential and
I beg you so to consider it. But you, who are a searcher after truth,
have a right, I think, to know these things.—Very cordially yours,

JOSEPH C. GREW

LETTER FROM A JAPANESE EXTREMIST

December 4, 1937

The following letter received to-day is significant of the general
feeling here :

[Translation] December Q, 1937
H. E. Joseph Clark Grew,
American Ambassador to Japan

Down with Great Britain !

Due to Great Britain's instigation, China has assumed a challenging
attitude against Japan and the consequence was the issue of the
present Japan-China conflict. With the progress of military opera-
tions in China, Hong Kong has now become the centre of anti-
Japanese movements. The Japanese Navy insists that Hong Kong
should be taken possession of by Japan, otherwise the blockading
of the Chinese coast line will be useless.

We hold that Japan should occupy Hong Kong and Singapore
first of all and thereby eliminate the fundamental cause of the Japan-
China conflict. Despite Great Britain's assistance rendered to China,
Japan has already occupied five provinces in South China, namely
Kiangsu, Chekiang, and Anhwei provinces. A million Japanese
should henceforth be stationed in China for ever with a view to
maintaining peace in East Asia.

Lessons in English in middle and other schools in Japan should
hereafter be lessened. Only those who desire to study English
specially should do so.

The above statements were presented to the Japanese Army and
Navy on November 15.

[Signed]-----------

(Commander of Japanese Navy Retired)

WE RECEIVE THE NEWS OF THE PANAY SINKING

December 13, 1937

This was a black day indeed. As Mondays are generally easy
days, owing to the comparative Sunday rest in Washington, we had
planned a golfing day at Takenodai with several foreign colleagues
and others, but as soon as I saw the morning flight of telegrams from
China I gave up all thought of an outing, changed my clothes, and