793.94/3764: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
Peiping, January 31, 1932—5
p.m.
[Received January 31—8:40 a.m.]
[Received January 31—8:40 a.m.]
164. Following telegram has been sent to Shanghai:
January 31, 5 p.m.
- 1.
- Your January 30, 4 p.m., and January 30, 6 p.m., clearly indicate that it is your view as well as that of the Chairman of the Municipal Council that the Japanese are using the Settlement as a base of operations. It also appears that Japanese troops are operating independently and not in accordance with the general defense plan agreed upon and thus creating a particular danger that the troops of other nationalities stationed in their respective sectors may become embroiled in some of the Japanese clashes.
- 2.
- In the opinion of the Legation the action of the Japanese, as described in your telegrams, tends to break down the neutrality of the Settlement and to afford to the Chinese good ground for complaints of discrimination against them. In these circumstances the Legation believes that the consular representatives would be wholly justified in bringing these considerations to the attention of their Japanese colleague and urging a prompt discontinuance of all courses of action adversely affecting the Settlement’s integrity. See Legation’s January 30, 5 p.m.7
Repeated to the Department.
For the Minister:
Perkins