893.01 Manchuria/544
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 10.]
Sir: With reference to my telegrams Nos. 232, of September 15, 7 p.m.70 and 235, of September 16, 1 p.m., there are transmitted herewith copies of the Japanese text, as published in the Official Gazette, of the Japan-Manchukuo protocol of September 15, 1932, copies of the Foreign Office translation of the protocol, copies of the Embassy’s translation, and copies of the public statement of Count Uchida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the occasion of the signing of the protocol.71
It will be observed that the Embassy’s translation of the protocol does not differ essentially from that of the Foreign Office, except that in the second article of the protocol the Foreign. Office translation renders a phrase as: “it being understood that such Japanese forces as may be necessary for this purpose shall be stationed in Manchukuo”. The Embassy can find in the Japanese text no expression corresponding with “it being understood” and has translated the phrase as: “for which purpose such Japanese troops as may be necessary shall be stationed within the territory of Manchukuo”.
The Embassy considers three points in the protocol worthy of particular attention, as follows:
(1) The phrase in the first article, “insofar as no other arrangements between Japan and Manchukuo are concluded in the future”. This condition in a treaty is somewhat unusual and appears to indicate that special arrangements are to be concluded between Japan and Manchukuo in the future. The Embassy has received no indication of the character of these special arrangements.
(2) The phrase in the second article, “for which purpose such Japanese troops as may be necessary shall be stationed within the territory of Manchukuo”. The purpose specified being that of cooperating in defense against any “threat to the territory or peace” of either of the parties, the phrase would appear to give Japan the right to station troops in Manchukuo to defend the region against external attacks and also against internal dissension, thus perpetuating indefinitely the present Japanese-controlled administration. It also extends the Japanese lines of defense to whatever boundaries Manchukuo may acquire.
The entire second article of the protocol bears a striking resemblance in intent (although not in phraseology) to the fourth article of the Japan-Korea Protocol of February 23, 1904,72 which read[s] as follows: [Page 270]
“In case the welfare of the Imperial House of Korea or the territorial integrity of Korea is endangered by aggression of a third party or internal disturbances, the Imperial Government of Japan shall immediately take such necessary measures as circumstances require, and in such case the Imperial Government of Korea shall give full facilities to promote the action of the Imperial Japanese Government. The Imperial Government of Japan may for the attainment of the above mentioned object occupy when the circumstances require such places as may be necessary from strategic points of view.”
(3) The clause providing that, in case of differences of interpretation of the Japanese and Chinese texts, the Japanese text shall govern. This clause permits the Japanese Government to insist upon its own interpretation of the protocol in the future.
The protocol is reported to have been accompanied by a secret military agreement, but the Embassy has as yet received no intimation of the contents of this agreement.
Respectfully yours,
- Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, p. 103.↩
- Enclosures not printed; for text of protocol received by the Department from the Japanese Embassy, September 16, See p. 253.↩
- Foreign Relations, 1904, p. 437.↩