THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS OCCUPATION OF MANCHURIA BY JAPAN, BEGINNING OF JAPANESE MILITARY AGGRESSION, AND EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PRESERVE PEACE-Continued Date and number 1931 Subject Page Nov. 24 From the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Nanking to the 560 Nov. 25 Nov. 25 (798) Nov. 25 Nov. 25 (437) Nov. 25 (799) Nov. 25 (120) Nov. 25 (121) Nov. 25 (803) Information that Japanese are rumoring a Chinese attack on Japanese troops at Chinchow, but that actually Japan intends to launch an immediate attack. From the Chinese Legation Information of Japanese intentions of further aggression and of Chinese resolution calling upon nations to invoke peace treaties and providing for reorganization of Chinese Government to dispel false propaganda that the Chinese people have no confidence in it. From the Chargé in France (tel.) From Dawes: Statement given to Briand (text printed) indicating U. S. approval of resolution, with the understanding that it not be published until the resolution has been agreed upon by the Council members other than the disputant parties and has been made public. From the Minister in China (tel.) Conversation with Wellington Koo, who was informed of Department's attitude toward the Council's resolution and toward the Chinese counterproposal; Chinese fear that by the time any commission reaches Manchuria the Japanese will be firmly entrenched. To the Minister in China (tel.) Instructions for the Consul General at Mukden to continue to emphasize to the Japanese Consul General the American interests in Antung Electric Light Plant and the losses suffered by them as result of its closure. From the Chargé in France (tel.) From Dawes: Information that the Chinese counterproposal (text printed) has just been sent to Briand by Sze, but Sze has not yet asked that it be presented to the Council. To the Consul General at Nanking (tel.) For the Minister: Instructions to make friendly suggestion to Koo, in reply to his inquiry, that withdrawal of Chinese troops from Chinchow area would be well advised, but that time does not permit the negotiations for the desired Japanese guarantees. To the Consul General at Nanking (tel.) For the Minister: Information that Ambassador in Japan has been instructed to repeat to the Minister certain communications concerning Department's attitude as presented to the Japanese Government. From the Chargé in France (tel.) From Dawes: Transmittal of statement (text printed) handed by Sze to Drummond for communication to the Council, advising of Japanese convergence on Chinchow and requesting Council to establish a neutral zone between the Japanese and Chinese troops to prevent conflict. 560 561 562 563 563 564 565 566 THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS OCCUPATION OF MANCHURIA BY JAPAN, BEGINNING OF JAPANESE MILITARY AGGRESSION, AND EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PRESERVE PEACE-Continued Date and number 1931 Nov. 25 (804) Subject From the Chargé in France (tel.) From Dawes: Sweetser's report on private meeting of the Council, at which it was decided to issue to the press a communiqué giving a résumé of the draft resolution, and to send identic cables to Japan and China pertinent to the impending conflict at Chinchow. Page 566 Nov. 25 (805) Nov. 25 (806) From the Chargé in France (tel.) 568 From Dawes: Transmittal of the communiqué issued by the League (text printed) giving substance of the resolution before the Council. From the Chargé in France (tel.) 569 From Dawes: Transmittal of the identic telegram (text printed) addressed by Briand to China and Japan concerning the situation at Chinchow. Νον. 26 (1010) Nov. 26 Nov. 26 (807) Nov. 26 (808) Nov. 27 Nov. 27 (123) From the Minister in China (tel.) From Mukden: Indications of Japanese intentions to drive against Chinchow and to destroy Chang Hsueh-liang's power and Nanking's influence. From the Minister in China (tel.) Communication of the Secretary's friendly suggestion to Koo, who stated that the popular attitude at present would make difficult the withdrawal of troops from the Chinchow area, and that the Government must insist on a time limit for Japanese evacuation of troops in Manchuria because of public demand from all sides in China. From the Chargé in France (tel.) From Dawes: Sweetser's report concerning Sze's receipt of promising instructions from his Government, and likelihood of Japan's willingness to obviate conflict at Chinchow; decision of members to examine possibility of effecting a neutral zone at Chinchow. From the Chargé in France (tel.) From Dawes: Letter from Drummond (text printed) advising that, in line with Council's identic telegrams relative to Chinchow, it had been suggested that the various Governments might take similar individual action and might also dispatch as many observers as possible to that area, and that U. S. independent action along these lines would be helpful. From the Minister in China (tel.) Conversation with Koo, who reiterated his statements regarding an evacuation time limit. Opinion that Chinese Government's very existence depends on settlement of the time-limit question because of widespread public opinion. To the Consul General at Nanking (tel.) For the Minister: Instructions to advise Military Attaché, now in Chinchow area, to cooperate fully with other foreign military observers in effort to find some means of preventing conflict between Chinese and Japanese forces. 569 570 570 571 572 572 THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS OCCUPATION OF MANCHURIA BY JAPAN, BEGINNING OF JAPANESE MILITARY AGGRESSION, AND EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PRESERVE PEACE-Continued Nov. 27 (811) Nov. 27 (1015) Nov. 27 (812) Nov. 27 (813) Nov. 28 (1017) Nov. 28 Nov. 28 Nov. 28 (249) Information from Koo that Chinese Government believes From Dawes: Sweetser's report of a conversation between From the Minister in China (tel.) Information from Tientsin that Chinese have suggested policing by foreign troops of area near Japanese Concession, as the Japanese have demanded the withdrawal of Chinese police. From the Chargé in France (tel.) From Dawes: Visit from Matsudaira, who referred to the question of increasing the number of members on the proposed commission from three to seven, and also expressed a desire to have a phrase in the resolution revised. From the Chargé in France (tel.) From Dawes: Information from Sweetser concerning discussion by the Twelve Council members of the situation at Chinchow, and report by Briand of his conversation with Sze in which the latter stressed the need of an evacuation date. From the Minister in China (tel.) Report from Military Attaché at Chinchow that, according to reliable information, Japanese will soon submit an ultimatum demanding Chinese evacuation of Chinchow, and that there is no evidence of Chinese preparation to take the offensive or to attack. Press Release Issued by the Department of State Secretary's assertion at press conference (text printed) that Japanese Foreign Office was misinformed as to his remarks at press conference of November 27 (text printed) in which he expressed surprise over reported Japanese advance toward Chinchow after assurances from Shidehara. Memorandum by the Secretary of State Discussion of the Chinchow situation with the Japanese To the Ambassador in Japan_(tel.) Instructions for Colonel McIlroy to proceed to Chinchow and to cooperate with Colonel Margetts in observation and liaison work there, provided such action will not embarrass his relations with the Japanese and the mission in which he is engaged upon their invitation. 573 575 575 576 578 578 579 580 THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS OCCUPATION OF MANCHURIA BY JAPAN, BEGINNING OF JAPANESE MIlitary AGGRESSION, AND EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PRESERVE PEACE-Continued Report of further firing and Chinese proposal to withdraw troops from vicinity of Japanese Concession. Nov. 28 (199) From the Assistant Military Attaché in Japan to the Adjutant 582 Information from McIlroy of Japanese movements toward Nov. 28 (815) 583 Nov. [28?] (1019) Νον. 28 (816) Nov. 29 (240) Nov. 29 (817) Nov. 29 (241) Nov. 29 (818) From the Chargé in France (tel.) From Dawes: Sweetser's report concerning the presentation to the Drafting Committee of China's suggested changes in the Council's draft resolution, and the ensuing discussion; decision that the Committee would send Sze a formula on evacuation, and that Sze would send in his views on the commission. From the Minister in China (tel.) From Mukden: Unofficial statement by Japanese spokesman From Dawes: Information received from Sweetser that From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Information that the Foreign Office gave out its vigorous statement (referred to in Department's press release of November 28) to placate the critics of Shidehara, who aroused public antagonism by presuming to speak for the War Minister and the Chief of Staff; hope that Department will make a conciliatory reply. From the Chargé in France (tel.), From Dawes: Suggestion to Sze that the withdrawal of the Japanese across the Liao River, if true, would relegate to the academic the time-limit issue and save his Government's prestige at home, enabling him to accept immediately the League's settlement plan; suggestion that confirmation of the withdrawal report by observers at Chinchow could not but be welcome to both China and Japan. From the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Conversation with Baron Shidehara, who denied authorizing the statement. From the Chargé in France (tel.) From Dawes: Information from Sweetser that Yoshizawa has urged upon Briand that Koo must continue the negotiations for a neutral zone at Chinchow, as it was on the basis of this Koo proposal that Shidehara persuaded the Japanese military to begin the present withdrawal; letter from the Japanese Government setting forth this position, and Briand's reply (texts printed). 586 586 587 588 589 590 THE FAR EASTERN CRISIS OCCUPATION OF MANCHURIA BY JAPAN, BEGINNING OF JAPANESE MILITARY AGGRESSION, AND EFFORTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER POWERS TO PRESERVE PEACE-Continued Date and number Subject Page 1931 Nov. 30 (819) Nov. 30 (443) Nov. 30 (250) Nov. 30 (1025) Nov. 30 Nov. 30 (821) Nov. 30 (822) Nov. 30 (823) From the Chargé in France (tel.) From Dawes: Transmittal of Sweetser's report: Japanese suggestions for revisions in the draft resolution; disinclination of members to allow to Japan a free hand in the protection of their interests in Manchuria, and suggestion that China should be given some assurance regarding a permanent organization of military observers. To the Minister in China (tel.) Instructions, in view of Dawes' earlier suggestion, to advise the Military Attaché at Chinchow that the Department suggests the collaboration and dispatching by the Military Attachés, if possible, of joint or identical statements concerning actual progress of Japanese troop withdrawals. To the Ambassador in Japan (tel.) Instructions as to the importance of indicating specifically any communications which have been made to the Ambassador as strictly confidential, in view of the recent misunderstanding in connection with Shidehara's assurances regarding Chinchow. From the Minister in China (tel.) Information that Marshal Chang offered to withdraw his troops to Shanhaikwan provided the Japanese would retire to Mukden, but that apparently the Japanese withdrawal had already begun. Memorandum by the Secretary of State Call by the Japanese Ambassador to say that Japanese were evacuating and that Japan was ready to agree not to penetrate the Chinchow zone if the Chinese withdrew; his question as to whether an American would go on the commission of inquiry, and Secretary's reply that an American would go provided both China and Japan agreed. From the Chargé in France (tel.) From Dawes: Information that Sze is acting along the lines suggested and has submitted a statement to the Council (text printed) advising that if Japanese withdrawal can be verified, China will be willing to omit the time limit from the resolution. From the Chargé in France (tel.) From Dawes: Transmittal of Sweetser's report: Discussion by the Drafting Committee of China's suggested amendments to the draft resolution; information that Japanese submitted a memorandum to the Committee renewing demands to include in the resolution the Japanese right for protection of their interests. From the Chargé in France (tel.) From Dawes: Transmittal of Sweetser's report: Japanese proposal of Chinese withdrawal from Chinchow, as Japanese evacuation has already begun; their insistence that the Japanese provision regarding protection against bandits be inserted in the resolution. New draft of the point on relationship between evacuation and the commission, accepted by Sze (text printed). 592 594 595 596 596 598 598 601 |