793.94/3794
The British Embassy to the Department of State75
Telegram From Sir J. Simon to His Majesty’s Ambassador at Tokio, January 29th, 1932
Information has reached me to the effect that Chinese authorities at Shanghai yesterday acceded to all the Japanese demands and that their reply was accepted by Japanese Consul-General as satisfactory. It was believed therefore that crisis had passed and both Consul-General at Shanghai and Mr. Ingram were informed by their Japanese colleagues to that effect. Nevertheless though so far as I am aware no new facts had arisen to alter situation Japanese forces attacked during the night densely crowded Chinese suburb of Chapei adjoining International Settlement. I understand that excuse advanced for this action [Page 100] was presence of certain unreliable Chinese troops in this district. This however was not new factor; presence of ill disciplined Chinese soldiery may also be regarded as one of the permanent features of every situation in China, and in present case affords no justification for precipitate action of Japanese forces in violation of agreement reached between Chinese authorities and local representatives of Japanese Government. If it is the case as appears from press reports that Chinese military authorities were actually engaged in sending reliable troops into district to control situation in accordance with agreement referred to above when Japanese attack took place this would appear to give a strong prima facie impression that attack was both unprovoked and indefensible.
You should immediately press Japanese Government for an explanation on this point. You should emphasize fact that it must naturally be a matter of grave concern to His Majesty’s Government that such an unabashed …76 attack is made upon a co-signatory of Kellogg Pact and a fellow member of League of Nations and that it would be impossible for His Majesty’s Government to acquiesce in International Settlement being used as a base for prosecution of attack. You should further point out that there is a large foreign population in Shanghai and a vast concentration of British and other foreign interests in International Settlement and adjacent areas—as for example railway station and other property of Shanghai-Nanking Railway in Chapei. His Majesty’s Government therefore protest strongly against action of Japanese forces which has already gravely endangered foreign life and property and request that Japanese Government will take steps to effectively control those forces with a view to restoring normal condition in Shanghai at earliest possible moment.
Sir J. Simon hopes that the United States Government may be able to send instructions urgently in a similar sense to their Ambassador in Tokio.
He has, in this case, made no communication to any other foreign Power.