793.94/10566

The Counselor of the Japanese Embassy in China (Hidaka) to the Counselor of the American Embassy in China (Peck)

Dear Mr. Peck: I have been instructed by my Ambassador at Shanghai to convey to Their Excellencies the American, British, French, German and Italian Ambassadors the views as stated in the separate paper attached hereto as his reply to their Note of the 11th instant.26

I shall be very much indebted to you if you will be so good as to transmit it to the interested Ambassadors at the earliest opportunity.

Yours faithfully,

Shinrokuro Hidaka
[Enclosure]

The Japanese Ambassador in China (Kawagoe) to the American Ambassador in China (Johnson), et al.

It goes without saying that the safety of the lives and property of the foreigners as well as the Japanese in Shanghai falls under the solicitous care of the Japanese Government. It follows therefore that it is the most sincere desire on their part to avert any armed hostilities being engaged in Shanghai and the districts adjacent to it.

2.
In order to successfully fulfil the desire expressed above, however, it is a matter of urgent necessity that, with an ultimate view to achieving the faithful observance of the stipulations of the Shanghai Truce Agreement of 193227 by the Chinese authorities, steps must be taken, as provisory measures, to withdraw the Chinese regular troops and the equally well equipped Peace Preservation Corps that are at present concentrated in the vicinity of the settlements and are threatening the [Page 344] Japanese, at least outside the fighting distance, and also to demolish all their military constructions erected in the vicinity of the said area.
3.
The Japanese Naval Landing Party are under the strict order to act with utmost self-control and perseverance. It can be definitely stated that they do not entertain the slightest intention of making any unprovoked attack on the Chinese troops or the Peace Preservation Corps. Also, the Japanese Government are fully prepared to withdraw their Naval Landing Party forces to their original positions provided that the conditions mentioned in the preceding paragraph are accepted by the Chinese authorities.
4.
Under these circumstances, the Japanese Government earnestly request the interested Powers that, with the purpose of preserving Shanghai immune from the deplorable consequences of a warfare, they be good enough to exhaust all necessary means at their disposal in order to bring about the withdrawal of the Chinese troops and the Peace Preservation Corps at the earliest moment.
  1. For text of the collective note of August 11, see telegram No. 403, Aug. 11, 1937, midnight, from the Ambassador in China, p. 341.
  2. Ante, p. 217.