It is regrettable that so far no promise of co-operation
at Shanghai has come from the United States or Japan or France. The position of Japan seems to be that she is unwilling to send troops at present for the reason we have already given. She does not refuse prospectively to help. France, as usual, stands apart looking on with an air of detachment. As for the United States, a declaration of benevolent sentiments towards China was published by the State Department on Wednesday. This, at least, coincides with the sense of the British Memorandum, but there is a risk that the British Government may be left to bear the odium of alone being associated with the movements of troops. By a tragic irony Great Britain has repeatedly found herself in this galling situation, although our Government have led the way behind the scenes in advocating a most generous and sympathetic policy in China.
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