793.94/3511

The Japanese Embassy to the Department of State26

Shigemitsu27 has been instructed to forward to the Chinese Government the following memorandum dated October 9.

(1) The Japanese Government has already made it clear that the Manchurian affair is nothing but the outcome of a deep-rooted anti-Japanese feeling in China which has taken a specially provocative form in the recent challenge to Japanese troops compelling the latter to resort to measures of self-defence. The responsibility for the present situation naturally lies with the Chinese Government.

The Japanese Government has time and again requested the Chinese Government to take proper steps to check the anti-Japanese movement so systematically carried out in various places in China. Being desirous of maintaining cordial relations between the two countries, this Government has exercised the greatest patience and forbearance in the hope that this deplorable state of affairs may yet improve. Unfortunately, however, this anti-Japanese agitation seems now to be assuming alarming proportions. It is learned that the anti-Japanese societies at Shanghai and elsewhere have passed resolutions not only to enforce prohibition of trading in and transportation of Japanese goods but to order cancellation of existing contracts and otherwise to prohibit all business transactions and to cancel contracts of employment between [Page 16] Chinese and Japanese in order thus to effect the so-called “severance of economic relations with Japan”. For that purpose examination and detention of goods and persons, intimidation and violence, and various other means are being employed to give effect to such resolutions and severe penalties are meted out to any who may fail to comply with these orders, some societies even going so far as to threaten capital punishment. Moreover, cases of expropriation and detention of goods owned by Japanese people and of threats and violence against their lives and property have become so numerous and insistent throughout China that they have been forced to withdraw totally or partially from various localities.

(2) It is to be noted that the anti-Japanese movement in China is conducted as an instrument of national policy under the direction of the Nationalist Party which in view of the peculiar political organization of China is inseparable in function from the Government. That movement must therefore be clearly distinguished from the one which originates spontaneously amongst the people. It is therefore evident that the present anti-Japanese movement in China is not only in contravention of the letter and spirit of the treaties existing between the two countries but constitutes a form of hostile act without the use of arms contrary to all standards of justice and friendship. The Chinese Government will be assuming a very serious responsibility if it should fail to take prompt and effective measures to quell that agitation. Moreover, in meting out penal sentences to individual citizens anti-Japanese societies which are purely private organizations are clearly usurping the authority of the National Government.

(3) It will be remembered that at a recent meeting of the Council of the League of Nations at Geneva the Chinese representative as well as the Japanese gave assurance that their respective governments would endeavor to prevent aggravation of the situation.28 The Chinese Government obviously against that pledge is actually aggravating the situation by making no honest or effective effort to restrain activities of anti-Japanese societies which are jeopardizing the lives and property as well as the liberty of trade of Japanese subjects in different parts of China.

(4) The Japanese Government desires to call once more the serious attention of the Chinese Government to these actions on the part of anti-Japanese societies and to declare at the same time that the Chinese Government will be held responsible for whatever may be the consequences of its failure to suppress the anti-Japanese movement and to afford adequate protection to the lives and property of Japanese subjects in China.

  1. This memorandrum was sent to the Under Secretary of State by the Japanese Ambassador the evening of October 8, 1931.
  2. Mamoru Shigernitsu, Japanese Minister in China.
  3. League of Nations, Official Journal, December, 1931, pp, 2279, 2282.