793.94/2079b: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Japan (Neville)

192. Until recently we have been reassured by the commitments made by the governments both of China and Japan to the League of Nations which were embodied in the Resolution of the 30th of September.33 Under that Resolution, Japan agreed to continue as rapidly as possible the withdrawal of its troops into the railway zone, while China with Japan’s consent agreed to assume responsibility for the safety of lives and property of Japanese nationals outside of that zone. I am, however, much disturbed by later reports, especially of the last 48 hours, which indicate that these commitments are not being carried out by either government.

I wish that you would call upon Baron Shidehara at once and, after reading him the above, impress upon him the dangers to all interests in China which we feel will inevitably result unless the pacific policy thus agreed upon is observed and unless both the Japanese and Chinese nations exercise at this time the utmost self restraint. I am urging this also upon the Japanese Ambassador and the Chinese Chargé here.

Stimson
  1. Ante, p. 13.