793.94/1675: Telegram
The Chargé in Japan (Neville) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 18—1:50 p.m.]
87. The Foreign Minister today gave an interview to the diplomatic representatives in Tokyo of Great Britain, France, Italy and the United States. He said that he had asked us to come because he wished to explain the position of Japan in China with particular reference to the situation in Shantung and Tientsin. He said that he wished to preface his statement by stating that Japan emphatically had no intention of occupying Shantung or maintaining troops there for any period longer than that absolutely required by disturbed conditions in North China. He said that Japan had originally sent troops into Shantung for the sole purpose of protecting the lives and property of several thousand Japanese who were domiciled there; that the attack on Tsinanfu had been precipitated by undisciplined Southern troops and that numerous atrocities had been committed; that the Japanese had only protected their people and had no intention or desire to interfere in any way in the political affairs of China; that they were reducing their forces and withdrawing their reserves and that for the present the total forces to be kept in Tsingtao, Tsinanfu, and along the railway line amount to about sixteen thousand.
[Page 247]He then said the Japanese Government proposed to enter into negotiations with the Nationalist Government for the purpose of settling the Tsinanfu incident. The Japanese will ask:
- First, an apology for the unwarranted attack by Nationalist troops;
- Second, the punishment of persons responsible;
- Third, an indemnity for the damage done to the lives and property of Japanese subjects;
- Fourth, an assurance that incidents of a similar character will not occur in the future.
The preliminary negotiations will be taken up with the Nationalist Government by the Japanese consul general at Shanghai with a view to making a joint investigation and settlement at Tsinan between the representatives of the Nanking Government and the Japanese consul general at Tsingtao. Baron Tanaka stated emphatically that there was no question involved of de jure recognition of the Nanking Government.
He said that the Japanese had about two thousand three hundred troops at Tsinan; that they had no intention of adding to or decreasing this number for the moment, because there were sufficient foreign troops at Tientsin to prevent any outbreaks there. He added that it was imperative to keep troops at Tsinan and Tientsin because in addition to the Nationalist troops who were now more or less under control there were about forty thousand Shantung troops who were completely out of hand, who had formerly been part of the Mukden army but who since the withdrawal of the Manchurian forces represented an independent element not allied with anybody and who would undoubtedly be the source of further trouble if there was any opportunity for it.
He said that he was not hopeful that peaceful conditions would be established in China for some time to come; that it would be difficult to disband the armies and that jealousy among the military commanders would continue to cause trouble.
Copy to Peking.