793.94/8869: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan ( Grew ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 20—2:10 p.m.]
214. At the termination of an emergency meeting of the Cabinet tonight, its third meeting today, the following statement was issued:
“An agreement to settle the North China incident locally was concluded at 11 o’clock on the evening of July 11 but among the Chinese regiments were some who impeded enforcement of the agreement and lawlessly fired on the Japanese, disturbing peace and order.
Moreover, as there could be seen no sincerity at all on the part of the Chinese to enforce the terms of the agreement, the Imperial Government has decided in accordance with its already fixed policy to take self-defense steps adequate for surveillance of the Chinese in enforcement of the agreement.”
Repeated to Peiping.