893.00/9958: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan ( MacVeagh ) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 17—12:55 p.m.]
63. At interview this afternoon with representatives of the United States, Great Britain, France and Italy, the Minister for Foreign Affairs said that the Japanese Government were prepared fully to fulfill their obligations in any joint measures which may be taken for the protection of foreign lives and property in Peking and Tientsin. That, in addition to thirteen companies of Japanese troops which would be stationed there upon return to Tientsin of detachment sent to Tsinan, the Government was prepared to divert to Tientsin several companies now en route from Japan to Tsingtau. The Japanese Government were convinced that if general hostilities should commence near Peking it would directly affect Manchuria and in view of the necessity of maintaining peace and order in Manchuria the Japanese Government was determined to prevent hostilities from extending to that region. With this in mind the Japanese Minister at Peking and the consul general at Shanghai had been instructed to deliver the following note to Chang Tso-lin54 and Nationalist Government, respectively, on the 18th at 2 p.m., until [Page 225] which time the Minister for Foreign Affairs requested that it be kept secret.
“The life of the population in China is characterized by extreme unrest and distress owing to the constant disturbances there which have now extended over many years; and foreign residents enjoy there no assurance of safety in the pursuit of their occupations. It is accordingly the earnest desire of the Chinese and foreigners alike that the disturbances should terminate as soon as possible in such a manner as may lead to the emergence of a united and peaceful China. Especially is this keenly hoped for by Japan whose interests are specially and deeply involved on account of her being China’s nearest neighbor.
The disturbances, however, now threaten to spread to the Peking and Tientsin districts, and it is feared that Manchuria may also be affected.
The Japanese Government attach the utmost importance to the maintenance of peace and order in Manchuria and are prepared to do all they can in order to prevent the occurrence of any such state of affairs as may disturb that peace and order or constitute a probable cause of such disturbance.
In these circumstances should the disturbances develop further in the direction of Peking and Tientsin and the situation become so menacing as to threaten the peace and order of Manchuria the Japanese Government on their part may possibly be constrained to take appropriate and effective steps for the maintenance of peace and order in Manchuria. It must be noted, however, that the policy of the Japanese Government which consists in maintaining an attitude of strict neutrality towards the contending forces, remains unchanged in every respect and that, should the course of events be such as to render the above-mentioned measure imperative, the Japanese Government will, in respect of the time and method of its adoption, exercise due care to provide against any unfair consequences arising to either of the two opposed parties.”
The Minister for Foreign Affairs stated that the Japanese Government with a view to preventing hostilities extending to Manchuria was anxious that no fighting should take place near Peking; that it has therefore decided to fix a point either at Shanhaikwan, or some other place as may be made advisable by subsequent military developments beyond which hostilities will not be allowed; that if Mukden army retreats in order it will be permitted to enter Manchuria; but that if it is defeated at Peking and retreats fighting with Southern army, the Japanese Government will prevent Mukden army, as well as Southern army, from passing. He believed that the foregoing policy would encourage Mukden army to withdraw from Peking, thus allowing Peking to be transferred peacefully to Nationalists.
Repeated to Peking.
- Generalissimo of military and naval forces under the Peking Government.↩