Date and number THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS CHAPTER III: JULY 1-OCTOBER 15, 1936-Continued 1936 Sept. 14 (445) Sept. 14 From the Ambassador in China (tel.) From Shanghai: Advice of decision reached at conference convened by Japanese Ambassador that, should Nanking Government lack authority to facilitate Japanese investigation of Pakhoi incident, the Japanese authorities on the spot should take appropriate measures. From the Consul General at Canton (tel.) Refusal of landing permission to Japanese gunboat at Vernacular press reports that Pakhoi case is assuming a more serious aspect consequent upon the opposition to the landing of Japanese investigators. 291 292 292 Sept. 15 (186) From the Chargé in Japan (tel.) Sept. 15 (448) From the Ambassador in China (tel.) 293 Wang's decision against accepting a position in North China and possibility that this action will contribute in some degree to greater autonomy in the North. Sept. 16 (266) 294 Sept. 16 Sept. 16 (119) Sept. 17 (267) From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) Conference between the Japanese Ambassador and the Foreign Minister concerning the Chengtu incident; and speculation that extraordinary, Japanese caution in negotiations regarding the Chengtu and Pakhoi incidents is due to concern lest Japan be involved in a major conflict. From the Consul General at Canton (tel.) Return of Chinese gunboat to Canton with investigating party following an unsuccessful attempt to investigate the Pakhoi incident. To the Chargé in Japan (tel.) Advice of Japanese representations against anticipated mock trial of the Emperor and an anti-Japanese demonstration at New York; and instructions to inform Foreign Office that there is no legal basis for their prevention, but that precautions are being taken to safeguard persons and property of Japanese nationals against any violence. From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) Request by the Japanese Ambassador, under instructions from Tokyo, that the Chinese authorities take prompt measures to enable the Japanese investigators to carry out their mission at Pakhoi. Sept. 17 From the Consul at Hankow (tel.) Sept. 17 (187) Information of departure of three Japanese gunboats, of a nonprovocative meeting of Japanese residents with the Japanese naval and military officers, and of a proclamation quoting instructions from Chiang warning against disturbances. From the Chargé in Japan (tel.) Compliance with Department's instructions in No. 119 of September 16, and hope of the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs that the story of the mock trial of the Emperor of Japan could be withheld from the Japanese newspapers. (Footnote: Advice that meeting of September 17 did not include the mock trial.) 295 296 297 297 298 Date and number 1936 THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS CHAPTER III: JULY 1-OCTOBER 15, 1936-Continued Subject Sept. 17 (188) From the Chargé in Japan (tel.) Information from the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs who said that if diplomatic negotiations relative to Chengtu and Pakhoi incidents failed, pressure from the Japanese defense forces might be renewed. To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Secretary's statement to the press clarifying the policy of perpetuating the doctrine of the Kellogg Pact. Sept. 17 (120) Sept. 17 (271) From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) Sept. 18 iG-2 Report No. 9462) Sept. 19 Sept. 19 (455) Information that Chiang has ordered Yu Han Mou's army to Pakhoi which should enable the Japanese investigators to land at that place shortly. Report by the Military Attaché in China Conversation with the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of "Manchoukuo" who conveyed the impression that Japan believes a Soviet-Japanese war within five years is inevitable and that the Chinese situation is very secondary by comparison. From the Consul at Hankow (tel.) Landing of Japanese patrols for stationing in the Japanese concession following the mortal shooting of a Japanese policeman allegedly by a Chinese noncommissioned officer. Page 298 298 299 299 302 From the Ambassador in China (tel.) 303 Clash between Japanese and Chinese troops at Fengtai leading to an apology to Colonel Mutaguchi of the Japanese Embassy Guard by the Chinese general in command. Sept. 22 (190) From the Chargé in Japan (tel.) 303 Opinion of both a Foreign Office official and the Chinese Sept. 22 From the Consul General at Canton (tel.) 305 Sept. 23 Evacuation of Nineteenth Route Army from Pakhoi and 305 Sept. 24 (509) Sept. 24 (279) Sept. 24 (511) Arrival of Japanese landing force and conference between the Hupei Governor and the Japanese Consul General, who demanded that the Chinese accept full responsibility for the killing of the Japanese policeman in a Chinese-patrolled area. From the Consul General at Shanghai (tel.) Report on the killing of a Japanese sailor and wounding of two others by Chinese in Hongkew district within the International Settlement: the landing of a Japanese naval party and the posting of patrols in the Hongkew and Chapei areas. From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) Negotiations between the Japanese Ambassador and the Foreign Minister in an effort to reconcile Sino-Japanese differences with reference to Japanese objectives and to the recent anti-Japanese incidents. From the Consul General at Shanghai (tel.) Written protest from Mayor Wu to Japanese authorities regarding the posting of Japanese naval units in Chapei area and Japanese request that the Chinese authorities apprehend the perpetrators of the recent shooting. 306 307 309 Date and number THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS CHAPTER III: JULY 1-OCTOBER 15, 1936-Continued 1936 Sept. 25 (281) Sept. 25 (193) Sept. 26 (194) Sept. 26 (515) Sept. 26 (282) From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) Further information on the conferences between the Foreign Minister and the Japanese Ambassador in which the latter made proposals for fundamental settlement of Sino-Japanese difficulties, with stress on economic cooperation and what would amount to practical alienation of five northern provinces. From the Chargé in Japan (tel.) Conservative press opinion that Japan's fundamental policy with regard to the Chinese situation remains unchanged and report that a Foreign Office official said that if negotiations fail, Japan will take other measures. From the Chargé in Japan (tel.) Dissatisfaction of Japanese with Nanking negotiations and Foreign Minister's urgent suggestion that Chiang Kai-shek return to Nanking for the conferences. From the Consul General at Shanghai (tel.) Further curtailment of Japanese naval landing party activities, and Japanese Counselor of Embassy's advice that SinoJapanese negotiations, now at a standstill, would be broken off unless satisfactory instructions are received from Chiang Kai-shek. From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) Conversation with a Foreign Office official who outlined the general Sino-Japanese situation giving as his opinion that the mild attitude of the Japanese Foreign Office was inspired by caution rather than by good will. 310 311 311 312 312 Sept. 26 (465) From the Ambassador in China (tel.) 313 Effective customs interference with railway transport of smuggled goods, but no control over profitable motor truck smuggling. Sept. 28 (517) From the Consul General at Shanghai (tel.) 314 Information from a press representative that the Japanese Sept. 28 (197) From the Chargé in Japan (tel.) 314 Reported decision of Japanese military to insist that China be pressed for settlement of the question of an autonomous regime in the five northern provinces. Sept. 28 (520) From the Consul General at Shanghai (tel.) 315 Advice that situation in Shanghai is quiet, but tense in the Sept. 28 (22) From the Consul at Kobe 315 Information that an economic mission composed of business leaders and supported by the army has been sent to Manchuria and North China. Sept. 29 From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) 316 (285) Account of proposals and counterproposals exchanged between the Foreign Minister and the Japanese Ambassador in a conversation on September 23. Date and number THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS CHAPTER III: JULY 1-OCTOBER 15, 1936-Continued 1936 Sept. 29 (470) From the Ambassador in China (tel.) 317 Advice of growing conviction that Japanese are determined to use incidents as leverage for agreement along lines of Hirota's three points. Sept. 29 (198) From the Chargé in Japan (tel.) 318 Evidence of a more determined effort by the Foreign Office to solve questions pending with China. Sept. 30 Sept. 30 (125) Sept. 30 (126) Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Far Interview with Ambassador Grew and the British Chargé, To the Chargé in Japan (tel.) Request for comments concerning an Associated Press despatch from Tokyo in regard to the possible resignation of the War Minister and the entire Cabinet following rejection by the Cabinet of extensive administrative reforms advocated by the army and navy. To the Chargé in Japan (tel.) Summary of British aide-mémoire of September 30 and instructions to submit opinion regarding arguments which might influence the Japanese attitude, together with the British Ambassador's views, and to request Ambassador Johnson to cable his suggestions regarding a U. S. approach to Japan and China at this time. 319 321 321 Oct. 1 (287) From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.) 322 Opinion that the Foreign Office has delayed replying to Oct. 1 From the Consul General at Shanghai (tel.) 323 Oct. Oct. Oct. Renewed activity of Japanese forces reportedly in anticipation of a decision in the Nakayama case, rumored concentration of Chinese troops in vicinity of Shanghai and Chinese banks' transference of funds to foreign banks. 1 From the Chargé in Japan (tel.) Belief that administrative reform will have no significant influence on Japanese policy in China and that the Cabinet will not resign. 1 From the Chargé in Japan (tel.) 1 Compliance with instructions in No. 126 of September 30 and opinion that informal conversations with Japanese officials will be the desirable approach in view of the British Ambassador's report of his interview with the Foreign Minister. From the Minister in Switzerland (tel.) Information from the Chinese Ambassadors in France and the United Kingdom respecting the recent Sino-Japanese negotiations, with indication of the Japanese demands, and respecting Chinese hope that the United States will take some step to bring about a détente in Sino-Japanese relations, with mention of intended steps by the British and French. 324 324 326 Information on probable Japanese objectives, and evidences that Japan's policy is to press China just short of outright mili- 327 Advice of decision satisfactory to the Japanese in the Naka- yama case and possibility of relaxation of strong precautionary Belief that an approach either to the Japanese or to the Japanese protest that press reports of Japanese demands were malicious propaganda and contrary to a Sino-Japanese Increasingly alarming situation aggravated by the provoca- tive and truculent attitude of the Japanese military. Memorandum by the Secretary of State Conversation with the Chinese Ambassador, who urged the American Government to take action similar to the British Government at Tokyo in asking the Japanese Government to Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of Far East- Statement of U. S. position relative to the Sino-Japanese Instructions to inform the Japanese Government by in- formal conversation of the solicitous interest of the American Government in the Sino-Japanese situation and to secure com- Rumors of plans for a new committee to dispose of the smug- Review by Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the discus- sions between the Japanese Ambassador and the Foreign Min- From the Chargé in Japan (tel.) Conversations with the Vice Foreign Minister, who empha- sized Japan's desire for a solution of issues with China by diplomacy: Embassy's belief that the Japanese Government is still in command of the China situation despite reports to the |