793.94/2033: Telegram
The Chargé in Japan ( Neville ) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 10—9:50 a.m.]
180. 1. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has just told me that the bulletin issued by the General Staff was not a Government pronouncement. He then said that two days ago the Chinese Minister had addressed a note to him suggesting that Chang, the Governor of Kirin, and Wang, the Governor of Hopei, should act as commissioners to restore peace and order in South Manchuria and take over the government of the places outside the railway zone occupied by the Japanese Army. This proposal he had not accepted for the reason that these two men were also generals in the Manchuria Army and Chang at least had [Page 19] had an active part in what fighting had taken place; consequently to turn the situation back to them would be merely to place matters where they had been before. He suggested to the Chinese Minister last night that, instead, independent commissioners be appointed on both sides to devise means for allaying the tension that existed; that they should lay down a general plan for settling outstanding troubles which would then be handled individually on their merits; the Japanese would prefer to deal with China as a whole and not with local units. I asked him if this note meant that direct negotiations were started; he said that he hoped so and would make every effort to settle matters.
2. In reply to my question about the bombing of Chinchow he said that the military authorities had reported as follows: Information had reached the commanding general that there was a large concentration of Chinese troops in that vicinity and Japanese Army planes had been sent to make a reconnaissance. They had been fired at by the Chinese troops and had replied by dropping bombs on the barracks. He minimized the affair stating that it was of no importance.
3. I made no comment on the information he gave me. I felt that inauguration of direct negotiations was an indication of improvement in the situation. I shall keep in touch with events and report further.
Repeated to Peiping.