Office of the Historian

793.94/2071: Telegram

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

Tokyo, October 13, 1931—11 a.m.
[Received October 13—7:50 a.m.]

183. Department’s 194 of October 11, 7 p.m.35 I was unable to get an appointment with the Foreign Minister yesterday and as there is a [Page 175] Cabinet meeting today I saw the Vice Minister late yesterday afternoon and left the memorandum with him. He told me that he would see that Baron Shidehara got it before leaving if possible.

I believe the Government realizes that the incident is one that cannot be minimized or explained away but they are handicapped by the fact that the General Staff is not subordinate to the Minister of War, who has control of administration and supplies but not of strategy and tactics. I expect to hear from the Minister soon.

In previous times I have referred to the desire of the Foreign Minister to negotiate direct with the Chinese. Frankly I believe that this is the best solution. The situation presents so many anomalies that attempts to settle it by outside powers are likely to do more harm than good. Both China and Japan are fixed in this part of the world and they will have to get along as neighbors as best they can. If we can help them to get together peacefully we will be doing them a service. We cannot sit in judgment on them or force a settlement that will be lasting. I venture to urge therefore that every effort be made to find a formula that will enable them to negotiate directly with each other to their own benefit and as an example to the world. I realize that this may be difficult but they must face each other in the emergency, if for no other reason than that geography compels them to. We can help best it seems to me by insisting that they settle their differences. It may well be that an opportunity to air their grievances may do them both good by relieving their minds; but the final settlement will have to be made by China and Japan. I can see no alternative in the long run.

Neville
  1. Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 20; by this telegram the Chargé was instructed to request further information from the Foreign Minister regarding Chinchow bombings.↩