793.94/4750: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
Shanghai, March 14 [15? ], 1932—11 p.m. [5
a.m.]
[Received March 15—12:55 a.m.]
[Received March 15—12:55 a.m.]
Your 77, March 5, 9 p.m.96
- 1.
- Colleagues referred to hereafter consist of British and French Ministers and Italian Chargé d’Affaires.
- 2.
- Colleagues and I agreed today that time had come when we should invite Quo Tai-chi and Shigemitsu to meet informally with us to explore possibilities of commencing negotiations provided for by League resolution of March 4th for cessation of hostilities and withdrawal of troops.
- 3.
- Shigemitsu and Quo accepted our invitation and met with us this evening. Meeting lasting from 4:30 till 7:15 p.m.
- 4.
- After considerable discussion they agreed to an agenda of three points as a basis for formal negotiations to begin probably Wednesday afternoon.97
- 5.
- In course of discussion Shigemitsu brought up question of reaffirmation Mayor’s letter of January 28th regarding anti-Japanese activities, et cetera. Quo volunteered the statement that his Government would be willing to reaffirm Mayor’s letter but insisted that it should not be made a condition to negotiations. We supported him and after much argument Shigemitsu was persuaded to accept as an outside confidential gentleman’s agreement a voluntary undertaking by Quo subject to reference to his Government that China would reaffirm Mayor’s letter if points set forth under headings (1), (2), and (3) of agenda were accomplished.
- 6.
- Mindful of Department’s instruction I insisted that this reaffirmation by Chinese must be considered as a voluntary act. Matter was covered as above indicated purely as a voluntary offer by Quo to open way to negotiations for it was obvious to all of us that Japanese set much store upon this point.
- 7.
- I assume Department will have no objection to participation by American military and naval officers upon commission which will supervise withdrawal.
- 8.
- Question of policing area to be evacuated was not touched upon.
- 9.
- Texts of agenda and understandings are being separately telegraphed.
Johnson