793.94/4908: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 29—8:45 a.m.]
My March 28, 8 p.m.
1. Meeting between Japanese and Chinese convened at 10 a.m. Sir Miles appealed to both sides to make speed, pointing out that these negotiations had now consumed a total of 21½ hours with little or no progress made.
2. Both sides accepted article 1 of draft B of March 27th with words [Page 642] “all and every form of” inserted before word “hostile” at the end of second sentence.
3. Article 2 has been referred to Nanking and is passed over pending instructions.
4. Article 3 reserved for launching [later?] discussion as it is dependent upon annex 2.
5. Articles 4 and 5 were accepted yesterday.
6. Annex 2 passed over at the suggestion of Japanese. Japanese and Chinese delegates are at a complete deadlock on this point. Chinese insist that there must be a time limit set upon the final retirement of the Japanese troops into the Settlement and extra-Settlement roads. They offer the following paragraph to be inserted between the two paragraphs of annex 2.
“The withdrawal from the adjacent localities to the International Settlement from extra-Settlement roads as mentioned in article 3 will be compared within (blank) weeks from the signing of this agreement.”
Japanese refuse to consider a date insisting that they must be sole judges of when they will depart and how many troops they need to protect their people, their lives and property. The Japanese and Chinese finally agreed to take under consideration following suggestion:
“The further withdrawal of the Japanese troops to the areas mentioned in the first sentence of article 3 will be completed as soon as conditions of local security permit of such reductions in the numbers of the said troops as will enable them to be accommodated in the said areas. This will be effected as soon as possible in accordance with the spirit of the resolution of March 4th and the discussion which preceded its adoption.”
This was offered by Lampson to be inserted between paragraphs 1 and 2 of annex 2 as more in accord with discussions which occurred at Geneva where the President of the Assembly is quoted as stating that question of local security must be taken care of. Department will note phrase “conditions of local security” which of course can make ultimate withdrawal of Japanese conditioned on situations entirely in the control of the Japanese.
7. Annex 3 passed on for further consideration.
8. Annex 4 last paragraph was discussed but passed on for further discussion. Japanese want to participate in aeroplanes reconnaissance. Chinese object to this.
9. Meeting adjourned until Thursday 10 a.m. Military subcommittee is to continue its meetings.