File No. 893.00/703.
The Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Japanese Chargé d’Affaires at Washington .
[Translation, undated, handed to the Secretary of State on November 27, 1911.]
The diplomatic corps at Peking, taking due notice of the latest development of the situation there, has decided, at its meeting of the 23d instant [November], to increase the legation guards there, the extent of such increase to be determined respectively by the various legations on the basis and within the limit of the number of international troops as reduced immediately after the Boxer trouble of 1900–1901. The above decision is only in reference to the guards in Peking. In view however of the fact that in Tientsin Great Britain and France have already some sufficient force, while Russia has lately added 200 men to her force there, Japan has decided to increase on this occasion her force in Tientsin at the same time as in Peking. This is because of Japan’s present force in North China being small on account of the withdrawal she made in 1908 of four troops of infantry and one section of cavalry. It is estimated that with the proposed increase the total number of Japanese force in North China will be, including the commander and officers, 1243. Its distribution between Peking and other points is to be determined by conference of Japanese minister in Peking and commander of the guard.
The proposed reenforcing force is expected to arrive at its destination about the 2d or 3d of next month.
You are hereby instructed to communicate the above to the Government to which you are accredited.