File No. 893.00/1949.
The American Chargé d’Affaires to the Secretary of State.
Peking, September 12, 1913.
Sir: I have the honor to report upon the political situation in China as follows:
On September 1st the City of Nanking, the last rebel stronghold in the Yangtze Valley, was captured by the northern troops. * * *
In the midst of the confusion and disorder which followed the capture of Nanking three Japanese subjects were killed. According to Mr. Gilbert’s report of the occurrence, these men were accused of aiding the rebels. Inasmuch as a number of Japanese have been aiding and abetting the rebellion the charge is not unreasonable. Other reports, however, state that they were caught looting. The Japanese account current here is that they were staying at the Japanese Consulate for safety and that when they learned that their own shops were being looted, they left the Consulate and attempted to reach their homes to save their property and that while doing so they were shot by General Chang’s troops.
The Department has undoubtedly been informed of the excitement created in Tokyo by the report of the killing of these three Japanese subjects. The opposition seems to have used the incident in an attack upon the Government. * * *
Joined with this incident of the killing of the Japanese in Nanking are two other cases: The first was the arrest by northern troops on August 11th of a Japanese officer in uniform, Lieutenant Nishimura, near Hankow. It is alleged that he was detained six hours and that during that time he was cruelly tortured. * * * The second case was the more recent arrest and detention at Yenchou Fu, Shantung, of a Japanese officer in uniform who was duly provided with a passport.
These two cases are regarded by the Japanese Legation as of far more serious consequence than the killing of three civilians at Nanking. The demands presented by the Japanese Government cover all these cases and certainly can not be considered excessive or unreasonable. They are as follows:
- 1.
- The culprits should be punished.
- 2.
- Those officers who neglected to accord protection to the Japanese be punished.
- 3.
- General Chang Hsun should express his regret to the Japanese Consulate for the accident.
- 4.
- The familes of the deceased Japanese be indemnified.
- 5.
- The Central Government express its regret to the Japanese Government.
- 6.
- The troops of General Chang be ordered to go to the Japanese Consulate in procession.
It would seem to be the part of wisdom for the Chinese Government to agree at once to these demands and thus dispose of a case which might easily grow into a source of serious trouble. But there is a disposition on the part of some of the Chinese officials to refuse to comply with these demands and to try to modify them. It would be entirely un-Chinese to agree to the first demands and they may be counted upon almost invariably to do the wrong thing. If these demands are not agreed to promptly, there is no doubt but that far heavier demands will be made. It is already rumored that the extension of the lease of Port Arthur and the Kuantung Peninsula wall be asked.
There is also a disposition to ask for the removal of General Chang Hsun. It is doubtful if this could be done without a fight.
In the meantime, the Japanese have landed several hundred bluejackets at Nanking with machine-guns and this force is now inside the city of Nanking protecting the Japanese Consulate and the property of Japanese civilians.
I have [etc.]