Office of the Historian

793.94/4539: Telegram

The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

Shanghai, March 3, 1932—10 a.m.
[Received March 3—5:15 a.m.]

My March 1, 11 a.m.

1.
Following represents Japanese reply to Chinese terms for immediate cessation of hostilities here. I am reliably informed that document containing this text31 was handed Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs last night shortly after midnight by Matsuoka on His Majesty’s Ship Kent in presence of Admiral Kelly.
  • “(1) Should China give assurance for the withdrawal of her troops to a certain distance from Shanghai (distance to be determined by the Japanese and Chinese authorities) Japan will agree to the cessation of hostilities for a certain period (to be agreed upon between the Japanese and Chinese authorities), and pending subsequent arrangement the Japanese and Chinese forces shall hold their respective positions. Details relating to the cessation of hostilities shall be arranged by the Japanese and Chinese military authorities.
  • (2) During the period of the cessation of hostilities, a round-table [Page 495] conference between Japan and China shall be held at Shanghai, in which the representatives of the principal powers interested shall participate, and the conference shall discuss with a view of reaching an agreement upon the methods for the withdrawal of both the Chinese and Japanese forces on such terms as are set out in the following paragraph, together with the measure for the restoration and maintenance of peace and order in and around Shanghai and for safeguarding the International Settlement and French Concession in Shanghai and the foreign lives, property and interests therein.
  • (3) The withdrawal of troops shall be commenced by the Chinese troops (including plain-clothes gunmen) to a specified distance and upon ascertaining the withdrawal of the Chinese forces, the Japanese forces will withdraw to the Shanghai and Woosung areas. As soon as the normal conditions will have prevailed, the Japanese Army shall be withdrawn from these areas.
  • (4) Should either of the parties infringe any of the terms of the cessation of hostilities, the other party shall have freedom of action. Both parties have the same freedom of action upon expiration of the period agreed upon under paragraph 1.”
2.
Chinese retired in good order from Chapei and other fronts night before last. Japanese forces began occupation of area evacuated by Chinese yesterday afternoon. I am informed that forces at Woosung were still holding out this morning having been cut off and that Japanese are landing balance of newly arrived reenforcements in neighborhood of Liuho and Woosung under the protection of naval guns this morning.
Johnson
  1. For text handed to the Secretary of State on March 3 by the Japanese Ambassador, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 207.↩