793.94/15340: Telegram

The Chargé in Japan ( Dooman ) to the Secretary of State

[Paraphrase]

458. Sawada, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, summoned me to the Foreign Office and informed me that, on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, he (Sawada) had handed a note to the diplomatic representatives of the belligerent countries. Sawada gave me a copy of the note, of which the following is a substantial translation:

“Confronted by the recent outbreak of a European war, the Government of Japan plans to avoid becoming involved in that war and to devote its energies to settling the China incident. In connection with this intention and in view of the profound concern with which the Government of Japan regards the attitude toward the situation in China taken by other nations, the Government of Japan desires to ask that, in deference to the Japanese Government’s above-mentioned intention, no measures of a character likely to affect injuriously the position of Japan with reference to the China affair be taken by the Government.

With respect, moreover, to areas of China controlled by Japanese forces, it is to be feared that the presence in such areas of naval vessels and troops belonging to powers participating in the conflict in Europe might result in unfortunate incidents and in a condition of affairs ill-adapted to Japan’s noninvolvement policy. The Government of Japan accordingly believes that it is incumbent upon it to proffer to the belligerent nations in question friendly advice that they effect—as a voluntary act—the withdrawal of their naval vessels and troops from the above-mentioned areas; and, it may be added, the Japanese authorities, upon the removal of these vessels and troops, will be prepared to exert every possible effort toward safeguarding lives and properties of citizens of the belligerent nations.”

Later I was told by the Foreign Minister’s private secretary that to the British, French, Polish, and German Ambassadors, representing the belligerent nations, and to the Italian Ambassador and myself as representatives of neutral nations, had been handed the above quoted note.

In handing the copy of this note to me the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs asked me to communicate it to the Government of [Page 10] the United States for “its information.” With reference to the note, he orally added that his Government considered it of primary importance to avoid the development of any situation in territory of China under the control of forces of Japan which might ultimately result in Japan’s becoming involved in the European war. I remarked that the possible breaking out in occupied territories of China of a conflict between the armed forces or citizens of the warring nations of a nature to cause Japan to become involved in the war in Europe was exceedingly difficult for me to visualize. The Vice Minister stated that on the morning of September 5 an incident was reported involving invasion by British naval ratings of the German Club in the Shanghai International Settlement and that the prevention of further such incidents and of cases even more serious was desired. I then asked if the Japanese request in regard to removal of forces in China of belligerent nations was to be construed as applicable to forces which the warring countries maintain in the foreign concessions and international settlements—if, for instance, the withdrawal by the British and French of their forces from the Shanghai International Settlement and French Concession, respectively, was desired by the Japanese Government. To this Sawada answered “Yes” without qualification, and discussion of the subject thereupon ceased.

Utilizing the occasion presented, I inquired as to the accuracy of a statement to the effect that no formal proclamation of neutrality would be published by the Japanese Government, which appeared in the press on the morning of September 5. The Vice Minister’s reply was to the effect that the statement issued by the Japanese Cabinet the evening of September 4 had made clear the Japanese Government’s attitude and that for the present no further steps in that direction were envisaged.

Dooman
  1. Telegram in three sections.