CHAPTER II: APRIL 16-JUNE 30, 1936-Continued From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) Foreign Office information of the Government's spirit of pessimism resulting from difficulties with Chen and with the Kwangsi leaders, and from apparent failure of its attempt to cause split between them; other reports of Nanking-South- Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs Observations concerning conversations in Japan and the United States of Shigeru Yoshida, recently appointed Japanese Ambassador to Great Britain, who stressed the need for Japa- nese expansion and emphasized the idea that United States, Great Britain and Japan should cooperate in regard to the Far (Footnote: Assistant Chief's intimation that Yoshida's efforts in London may serve to attract some British attention and support and thus partially obscure Japan's continued ag- Report from Colonel Joseph W. Stilwell, Military Attaché, who stated that from his recent travel along the so-called Lung-hai line he had observed no evidence of any kind of military activity, belief of his office that General Chiang has no present intention of opposing the Japanese there. From the Ambassador in China (tel.) Issuance of a press statement by General Chiang giving conditions of settlement with the Southwest; Foreign Minis- ter's analysis of situation, and indication of National Govern- ment's willingness to compromise on matters of administra- Information regarding the policy of the North China Gar- rison and indications that a military conflict in the South is Information from a Foreign Office official that the North China situation is more critical than the crisis in the South- From the Consul General at Canton (tel.) Press statements including text of Southwest Committee's telegram, allegedly addressed to Nanking, wherein appear the Memorandum by the Ambassador in China of a Conversation With the First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in China Indications that the Japanese are very pessimistic as to the future of Sino-Japanese relations. From the Consul General at Canton (tel.) Li's appointment as Commander in Chief of the Fourth Group Army and extracts from his speech of acceptance which Date and number 1936 THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS Subject Page From the First Secretary of Embassy in China (tel.) From Mukden, July 1: Foreign Minister's published statement relative to gradual abolition of extraterritoriality in "Manchoukuo", and announcement of readiness to enter into agreements with interested governments to safeguard future status of their nationals. From the Ambassador in China Review of political, military, economic and financial developments in China during the past six months. From the Consul General at Canton (tel.) Conversations with local authorities who had planned to hold the Dollar Steamship Company responsible for refusal to transport by steerage to Shanghai an anti-Japanese delegation of 300 hitherto unheard-of individuals. From the Ambassador in China (tel.) From Tsinanfu, July 6: Report that Han Fu Chu, Chairman of the Shantung Provincial Government, is sending a representative to entreat Chiang to refrain at all costs from armed conflict with the Southwest. From the Ambassador in China (tel.) Arrival at Peiping of Wang Keh-min, an economic and financial expert strongly endorsed by the Japanese, who hope he will accelerate Sino-Japanese economic cooperation in North China. 230 231 236 237 237 From the Consul General at Tientsin to the Ambassador in 238 Information that General Chang Hsueh-liang is preparing 240 Opening session of the Fifth Central Executive and Supervisory Committees; and opinion that rapidly changing Southwest situation may necessitate formulation of a mandate for Chiang's use in subduing the Southwest rebels. July 12 241 July 13 July 13 (356) July 13 From the Consul General at Canton (tel.) Advice of Southwest Political Council's telegram to the second plenary session urging adoption of the Southwest's fivepoint program mentioned in telegrams of June 23 and June 29. Memorandum by the Counselor of Embassy in the United King dom, Temporarily in Washington Conversation with Cadogan, soon to become an Under Secretary in the British Foreign Office, regarding the Far Eastern situation, during which Cadogan_indicated the general lines along which he would advise his Government. From the Ambassador in China (tel.) Statement by Wang Keh-min to U. P. correspondent that Japanese are sincere and reasonable in their aims for economic development and that if Nanking can accept the Japanese suggestions he will return to Peiping to administer economic cooperation. From the Consul General at Canton (tel.) Report of numerous defections of military and civil officials indicating a genuine opposition to Chen Chi-tang program. 241 243 244 Date and number THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS CHAPTER III: JULY 1-OCTOBER 15, 1936-Continued 1936 July 14 From the Consul General at Canton (tel.) 245 July 14 (225) Information regarding activities of Southwestern military leaders in forcing Chen's acceptance of a revised program. From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) 246 Press report of three resolutions passed by the plenary session, including names of appointees to a national defense council. July 15 (226) From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) 246 Press release of summarized translations of two plenary session speeches made by Chiang. July 18 (228) July 18 (229) Information concerning Japanese assistance to Kwangsi, and Government's hope for Yu's speedy conquest of Kwangtung. From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) 247 247 July 18 From the Consul General at Canton (tel.) 249 Information from a special delegate for Foreign Affairs who indicated that a changeover in leaders has lessened the gravity of the situation. July 19 From the Consul General at Canton (tel.) 250 Advice of continuing troop movements with Canton outwardly quiet. July 21 (372) From the Ambassador in China (tel.) 250 Reports that developments in Sino-Japanese relations in From the Ambassador in China (tel.) July 22 (375) 251 Word of appointments to the Hopei-Chahar Political July 24 From the Consul General at Canton (tel.) 252 General Yu Han Mou's arrival and assumption of office as Commander in Chief of the Kwangtung forces and final steps in the abolition of the Southwest Council and Executive Committee. From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) July 27 (234) 253 Advice of various National Government appointments and belief that Chiang has outwitted his enemies and that the consolidation of the Government's authority in the Southwest is assured. July 29 (235) July 29 (100) From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Instructions to reaffirm informally to the Foreign Office this Government's continued interest in the North China smuggling situation and to make inquiries regarding the findings of the recent investigation by the Chief of the Eastern Asia Bureau. 254 254 Date and number THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS CHAPTER III: JULY 1-OCTOBER 15, 1936—Continued 1936 July 29 (610) From the Ambassador in China 255 Information of Embassy instructions to Consul General at Mukden relative to payment by American nationals of "Manchukuo" taxes which are nondiscriminatory. July 31 (618) Aug. 6 (1970) From the Ambassador in China Detailed information pertaining to Japanese penetration in areas of Chahar and Suiyuan Provinces occupied by Mongols, and in areas along the Peiping-Suiyuan Railway under Chinese administration. From the Ambassador in Japan 255 261 Observations regarding several new indications of a Japanese desire for improved relations with Great Britain, and new factors affecting Anglo-Japanese relations. Aug. 8 Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs Analysis of political implications of recent developments in connection with Japanese foreign trade. 264 Aug. 10 (399) From the Ambassador in China (tel.) 267 Aug. 12 (244) Report of several clashes between Chinese provincial forces and unidentified opponents believed to be Chinese malcontents paid by Japanese to test the situation in eastern Suiyuan. From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) 267 Aug. 17 (169) Attempts of Chiang and other officials of the National 268 Conversation with the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs who stated that smuggling had decreased to only one-sixth or one-seventh of its former proportions and that the situation was being rapidly alleviated through natural processes. Aug. 21 (410) Aug. 21 (2001) From the Ambassador in China (tel.) Information indicating the possibility that the Japanese Ambassador hopes that he can persuade the Japanese military to suspend political activities for a time and can effect some economic agreements which will improve the general SinoJapanese situation. 269 From the Ambassador in Japan 270 Aug. 25 (249) Observations regarding a Japanese Army plan to settle 271 Aug. 26 (250) Aug. 26 Expression of satisfaction of the Secretary General of the Executive Yuan with the Japanese Ambassador's announced intentions, including the assurance that he will discuss all pending questions with the National Government rather than with local authorities. From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) Oral account of the Chengtu incident from Suma, who believes that the agitation against the reopening of the Consulate General had been deliberately fomented by Nanking Government officials. Memorandum by the Ambassador in Japan Conversation with the Foreign Minister regarding Japanese relations with the Soviet Union, China, and the United States. 272 273 Date and number THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS CHAPTER III: JULY 1-OCTOBER 15, 1936-Continued Subject 1936 Aug. 28 (422) Sept. 1 (427) Page From the Ambassador in China (tel.) Comments by a Japanese Embassy official that the Japanese Ambassador's recent visit to North China increased his understanding of the situation, and that his pending conversation with Chiang will be concerned with a three-point economic program involving railway construction and the development of agriculture and mining. From the Ambassador in China (tel.) Information from Kalgan Mission of difficulties in securing permits to continue and enlarge mission work; suggestion to mission that it prepare a list of its activities and properties for transmittal to the Japanese Embassy with a request that Japanese in that area be issued orders to protect Americans there. From the Ambassador in China (tel.) 275 276 Sept. 1 (429) 277 Substantiation of earlier information concerning Japanese control of the Mongols in Inner Mongolia. Sept. 2 (18) From the Consul at Mukden to the Ambassador in China 278 Sept. 4 (215) 280 Sept. 5 (260) Sept. 7 (261) Sept. 9 (262) To the Ambassador in China (tel.) Instructions to submit to the Japanese Embassy data mentioned in No. 427 of September 1, indicating that the information is supplied to prevent interference with Americans; but to avoid expressly asking the Japanese Embassy to issue orders to protect American citizens. From the Second Secretary of Embassy in China (tel.) Advice of continuing deadlock in Nanning peace negotia- From the Second Secretary of Embassy in China (tel.) From the Second Secretary of Embassy in China (tel.) Japanese Embassy's position that a recent incident at Pakhoi, in which a Japanese was killed by a Chinese mob, is another instance of anti-Japanism which the Chinese Government must immediately take adequate steps to suppress. From the Consul at Hankow (tel.) 280 281 281 Sept. 9 282 Information of allocation of Japanese Yangtze River forces and of successful curbing of anti-Japanese expressions in Chengtu. Sept. 9 From the Belgian Ambassador 283 (D. 5038 No. 3303) Sept. 10 Transmittal of considerations (text printed) regarding the "Manchoukuo" declaration July 1 concerning the privilege of extraterritoriality in Manchuria. From the Consul General at Canton (tel.) 287 Despatch of Japanese gunboat carrying two Canton Japanese Consulate General officials to investigate the Pakhoi incident. Sept. 11 (710) From the Ambassador in China 288 Observations regarding Anglo-Japanese relations and opinion that Great Britain is not yet ready to compromise with Japan. |