Foreign Relations of the United States

Chinese Ambassador's request for an appointment with the
Secretary to ascertain the U. S. attitude in the event that the
Chinese Government refuses to accede to Japanese demands
to negotiate on the basis of Hirota's three-point program.

From the Ambassador in China

Transmission of Peking & Tientsin Times (British) editorial,

and detailed comments relative to China's present attitude

in the conflicting policies of China, Japan, and the Soviet

Union in Eastern Asia.

From the Chargé in the Soviet Union (tel.)

Analysis of information relative to the Kremlin's views with
regard to the possibility of a Japanese attack this year.

From the Chargé in the Soviet Union (tel.)

Summary of a Tass telegram which reported an attack on

the Mongolian Frontier Guard by a Japanese-Manchurian

detachment on February 12.

From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.).

From Harbin: Confirmation by Japanese Mission of news-

paper reports regarding Soviet-Japanese encounter on Feb-

ruary 12.

Date and number

1936

Feb. 14

Feb. 15

Feb. 18 (35)

Feb. 18 (1)

Feb. 20 (79)

Feb. 20 (950)

THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS

CHAPTER I: JANUARY 1-APRIL 15, 1936-Continued

Subject

Memorandum by the Ambassador in China

Conversation with Dr. Kiep, head of the German Economic.
Mission, who stated that his Mission had no political signifi-
cance but was in the Far East solely for the purpose of learn-
ing of opportunities for increasing German trade.

Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs
Conversation with the Chinese Ambassador, who had found
that he was not instructed to see the Secretary, but who
repeated his earlier inquiry relative to the U. S. position on
Japan's China policy and had his attention called to American
disinclination toward "foreign entanglements."

From the Second Secretary of Embassy in China (tel.)

Chinese plan for defense and belief in some circles that Chiang is preparing to assist Soviet forces against Japan, although he has stated that China would remain neutral in event of Soviet-Japanese hostilities.

From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.)

Report of fuller press statements by Japanese officers relative to military activities, and advice of continuing student agitation in Peiping.

From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.)

Views of a Japanese Embassy official, who stated that the
January conversations of important officers had resulted in
the present apparent relaxation of Japanese military policy in
North China.

To the Ambassador in Japan

Suggestion of advisability of bringing to the attention of the
Japanese Foreign Office the reported discrimination against
American automotive trucks in Manchuria.

Feb. 21 (58)

From the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (tel.)

Feb. 23 (60-61)

Conversation with Litvinov, Commissar for Foreign Affairs, who believes that a Japanese attack on the Soviet Union is not imminent.

From the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (tel.)

Official statement in Moscow Daily News (text printed) reporting the Japanese and Soviet attitudes relative to the inclusion of neutral representatives in a mixed commission for investigating a border incident of January 3.

Feb. 24 (87)

From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.)

Statement to newsmen by Tada, commander of the Japanese
North China Garrison, relative to conditions in the Hopei-
Chahar area.

Feb. 25 (89)

From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.)

Tokyo press report of army changes which presumably presage a substantial increase in the numerical strength of the North China Garrison.

Feb. 28 (74)

From the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (tel.)

Advice from the Chinese Ambassador in Moscow that if
Japan insists upon the "three principles" or advances into
Shantung, Chiang will positively fight.

Date and number

1936

THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS

CHAPTER I: JANUARY 1-APRIL 15, 1936-Continued

Subject

Page

Feb. 29 (43)

From the Consul General at Shanghai

Mar.

Arrival of Hachiro Arita, newly appointed Japanese Ambassador to China.

China

063 From the Ambassador in Cvelopments in the anti-Communist

Mar. 5 (50)

Mar. 5

Mar. 6 (51)

Mar. 7 (119)

Mar. 14 (53)

Mar. 16 (135)

Mar. 17 (56)

Mar. 18 (1470)

Mar. 18 (1734)

Mar. 18 (1740)

campaign in the Shensi-Shansi sector.

From the Ambassador in China (tel.)

Chinese Foreign Minister Chang-Chun's statement that
China has not agreed to Hirota's three points, and newly ap-
pointed Japanese Ambassador Arita's report to the contrary.
Memorandum by the Counselor of Embassy in China

Chinese Finance Minister Kung's opinion that United States
and the European Powers should take steps to curb the serious
threat to international peace and security offered by Japanese
imperialistic ambitions.

From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.)

Announcement in emergency Cabinet meeting that
Japanese Military Attaché Isogai refuses to permit Central
Government troops to enter Shansi to oppose the Communists
unless Hirota's three-point program is accepted.

From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.)

From Canton, March 6: Report of widening rift between the Canton military and the Nanking authority.

From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.)

Information from an Executive Yuan official that the Chinese authorities and Japanese civil officials are unable to stop smuggling operations in North China owing to the interference of the Japanese military.

From the Ambassador in China (tel.)

Minor developments in Sino-Japanese relations in North
China.

From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.)

Foreign Minister's note (text printed) relative to the duties and rights of the Hopei-Chahar Political Affairs Commission. From the Ambassador in the Soviet Union

Report of conversation with Mr. Sakoh, Counselor of the Japanese Embassy, who discussed the proposed Soviet-Japanese commission for the demarcation of the boundary between the Soviet Union and "Manchoukuo" and the necessity for Japan's taking Vladivostok from the Soviet Union.

From the Ambassador in Japan

Opinion of Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs that question of Manchurian discrimination against American trucks should be handled by the interested parties dealing directly with the "Manchoukuo" authorities.

From the Ambassador in Japan

Review of developments in Soviet-Japanese relations, with particular reference to the Siberian-"Manchoukuo" and Mongol-Manchu borders and the arrest of the Japanese Staff of the Soviet Embassy in Tokyo.

THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS

CHAPTER I: JANUARY 1-APRIL 15, 1936-Continued

Subject

Page

From the Ambassador in Japan

Evaluation of situation following a change of government in

Japan brought on by the violence of February 26.

From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.)

Joint communiqué (text printed) stating that the four

lengthy daily conferences held by the Foreign Minister and the

Japanese Ambassador, March 16-19, were confined to an in-

formal exchange of views to facilitate satisfactory progress of

future negotiations for readjusting Sino-Japanese relations.

From the Ambassador in China

Summary of conversations with various officials at Nanking,

regarding the Sino-Japanese situation.

From the Ambassador in China

Transmission of documents purported to be a record of the

Sino-Japanese negotiations in 1935 which allegedly led to the

"Ho-Umetsu Agreement."

From the Ambassador in China

Conversations with the Finance and Foreign Ministers, who

expressed pleasure in the sentiments of Senator Pittman's anti-

Japanese speech before the Senate.

From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.)

Information from a Foreign Office representative who con-

curred in the general impression that North China develop-

ments must await clarification of the situation in Tokyo.

From the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (tel.)

Tass statement which constituted the first semi-official ad-

mission of a Soviet-Mongolian mutual assistance agreement.
From the Ambassador in Japan

Information from various representatives relative to an

alleged military agreement between Germany and Japan, sup-

posedly directed against the Soviet Union.

To the Ambassador in China (tel.)

Request for information pertaining to the reported tariff

agreement between the authorities of the "autonomous" area

of North China and Japan.

From the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (tel.)

Frontier clashes between Japanese-Manchurian forces and

those of the Mongol People's Republic; and opinion of Krestin-

sky, Acting Commissar for Foreign Affairs, that the incidents

were inspired by the younger military group in Japan in an

effort to provoke war with the Soviet Union.

From the Ambassador in China

Conversation with Sir Alexander Cadogan, the retiring Brit-

ish Ambassador, who reported farewell interviews with various
officials regarding the handling of the Sino-Japanese situation.
From the Ambassador in China (tel.)

Possibility that present quiet in the student situation may be
disrupted due to the students' restlessness, inept handling by
Chinese authorities, and the attitude of the Japanese military.
From the Ambassador in China (tel.)

Apr. 2

(164)

Tass report from Moscow of heavy losses incurred in a Mon-

gol repulse of Japanese-Manchurian detachments.

THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS

CHAPTER I: JANUARY 1-APRIL 15, 1936-Continued

Subject

From the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (tel.)

Exchange of opinions between the Japanese Ambassador and the Soviet Commissar for Defense, who anticipated further Mongol-Manchurian frontier differences and stated that any Japanese attack on the Soviet Union would be met by an attack twice as severe.

From the Ambassador in China (tel.)

Report of several Japanese appointments and of conversations at Tientsin with Sung and other Chinese leaders concerning the situation in Chahar and Shansi and the alleged existence of a secret Sino-Russian treaty.

From the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (tel.)

Belief of Soviet official that the recent frontier fighting was the undisciplined action of younger Japanese officers and insistence that no Soviet military were with the Mongolian troops which repelled the attack.

From the Ambassador in China

Editorial based on Senator Pittman's speech, which indicates China's bitterness in relinquishing hope of U. S. assistance in resisting Japan.

From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.)

Résumé of an Associated Press correspondent's interview
with Suma of the Japanese Embassy, who stated that Japan
will have to use force against China and that Great Britain
must recognize Japan as the leading power in the Far East.
From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.)

Communiqué to the press (text printed) announcing that
the Foreign Office had lodged a vigorous protest with the Soviet
Government against the mutual assistance protocol, concluded
March 12, between the Soviet Union and Outer Mongolia.

From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.)

Views of Chinese and Japanese officials intimating that the communiqué quoted in No. 83 of April 7 was issued in part to refute indirectly Japanese suspicions of a Sino-Soviet mutual assistance pact.

From the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (tel.)

Publication of text of the Protocol of Mutual Assistance between the Soviet Union and the Mongolian People's Republic. From the Counselor of Embassy in China (tel.)

Japanese pressure on Tientsin Mayor and General Sung for a written agreement providing for Sino-Japanese military cooperation against Communists, and Japanese objection to the dispatch of large numbers of National Government troops to Shansi based on probability of their consolidating Chiang's authority in that Province.

To the Ambassador in China (tel.)

Telegram from the American Ambassador at London (text printed) of a conversation with a Foreign Office official who mentioned disturbing reports from China, the possibility of unconsidered moves by the Chinese, and the necessity for Chiang to reach a decision as to his course.

Page

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

« Previous Continue »

Books

Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, Volume 4