Office of the Historian

793.94/5007: Telegram

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

Shanghai, April 8, 1932—10 p.m. [midnight]
[Received April 9—12:43 a.m.]

My April 5, 10 p.m.

1.
I desire to add the following to what I have said regarding the situation here as it relates to Japanese intentions. A little over a week ago I took a walk along the Chungshan Road which parallels Shanghai-Nanking Railroad where it enters Chapei and I crossed at a point on this road opposite northwest corner of the International Settlement a line of trench and barbed-wire entanglement then under construction by Japanese. Direction of line indicated that it might coincide with certain points described in my March 21, 10 a.m. (see also paragraph 4 of my March 25, 8 p.m.). My observation was that line was strongly made, for in distance I could see concrete structures being built suggesting blockhouses. The other day I visited Woosung an area immediately adjacent to Yangtzepoo end of Settlement. At the latter place I saw wooden hangars which had been constructed to accommodate aeroplanes. Canvas hangars in addition on two large fields will accommodate more or less permanently a large number of planes. I am told that in the neighborhood of Woosung Village considerable activity is going on in connection with the above-mentioned barracks.
2.
My British colleague and I contemplate directing our Military Attachés to apply to the Japanese for information as to the extent and character of defense system which they are constructing in that area.
3.
When the meeting adjourned yesterday there seemed, as indicated in my telegrams, little prospect of agreement. It is apparent that neither side wishes to accept the responsibility for breaking negotiations. [Page 679] It is a matter of speculation as to what Japanese will do when we meet again tomorrow at 5 o’clock. I am convinced that Chinese will not sign unless conference produces some timetable governing withdrawal Japanese forces. Quo fears personal attack and I believe his fear justified. He will either resign in order to avoid responsibility of signing or he will ask for an indefinite adjournment to enable his Government to appeal to the committee of the League.
4.
To me it has seemed all along fairly clear that Japanese have been merely using Lampson and myself and these negotiations for the purpose of obtaining time for preparing their position here at Shanghai. The construction of a strong trench and barbed-wire entanglement along the March 21st line points in that direction. The fact that throughout these negotiations Japanese have at all time[s] insisted on stressing military side of questions brought up, further indicates line they propose to take.
5.
It is my opinion that this line will be that they will keep and hold an area between the International Settlement and Woosung and east of the railway as a pledge to force the Chinese to accept terms in connection with boycott, anti-Japanese activities and other questions, possibly even questions relating to Manchuria.
6.
There was a possibility hinted at yesterday by Japanese Minister in conversation with me that the Japanese may be willing to consider something in regard to time limit provided the Chinese agree to round-table conference on all of these questions exclusive of Manchuria.
7.
My predisposition throughout all of these discussions has been that we were not interested in coercing the Chinese into accepting any settlement of these questions. Lampson has been following similar line.
8.
The time will soon arrive when Lampson and I must decide whether or not we will permit ourselves to be further used for the purpose of cloaking Japanese aims. I am sending above merely to inform the Department of what is running in our minds here. Tomorrow Ave shall meet to give final consideration to the question of whether or not the Japanese and Chinese can agree as to withdrawal of Japanese forces.
Johnson