Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1931, The Far East, Volume III

793.94/2951: Telegram

The Ambassador in Japan (Forbes) to the Secretary of State

Tokyo, November 29, 1931—6 p.m.
[Received November 29—7:27 a.m.]

241. I had an interview with Baron Shidehara at 3 p.m. this afternoon, giving my observations your 249.¹⁴ He was amazed when I made him read statement summarized to you last night¹⁵ given out to assembled press representatives in writing by authorized spokesman Foreign Office. He had neither seen nor authorized it and stated that it did not express his views in any respect. His statement to representatives of Japanese press given at 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon was to the effect that he did not believe statement of Associated Press attributed to you could have been given out by you, as he knew it was wholly unlike you. He dwelt further on the subject of the proposed accord with Chinese in regard to operations around Chinchow by stating that Wellington Koo had made a proposal through Briand which the Japanese had accepted in substance; that he had not intended his assurance to you that Japanese troops would not occupy Chinchow to be published because he and his military colleagues feared that with this assurance the Chinese would say there was now no further object in entering into the accord and would withdraw Wellington Koo’s offer. He states that the Chinese troops in considerable numbers are nearer Mukden than Kowpangtze and are occupying Tahushan and he fears premature announcement of Japanese intention will result in further advances and bringing about a situation that can only be met by further fighting. It seems as though influence of the United States and all other powers interested in promoting peace might be used in insisting that the Chinese adhere to their offer and reach agreement along the lines on which negotiations were proceeding. The newspaper statement which I cabled you yesterday¹⁶ was our translation from the Japanese papers. It runs closely parallel to the English version appearing in the Japan Advertiser.

Word has just come in that the Foreign Office has disavowed the press statement issued last night, stating that the press despatch had been accepted without verification and that the Foreign Office statement had been issued without the authority of the Foreign Minister.

Forbes

14. Of November 28, 4 p.m., p. 580.
15. See telegram No. 239, November 28, 8 p.m., from the Ambassador in Japan, Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 51.
16. See telegram No. 239, November 28, 8 p.m., Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 51.