793.94/5296
Press Release Issued by the Japanese Embassy, June 2, 193236
Address of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Viscount Makoto Saito, at the Opening of the Diet, March [June] 3, 1932
I have the privilege of reviewing, on this occasion, the latest developments in the foreign relations of this country.
We are all gratified to watch the rapid restoration of peaceful conditions in the Shanghai area following the conclusion on May 5th of the Sino-Japanese agreement for the cessation of hostilities. I may say that in the course of negotiations leading up to this agreement, we encountered not a few difficulties and that the earnest labors of the British Minister to China and the representatives of other friendly powers on the spot as well as our own attitude of fairness and rectitude largely contributed to the final happy outcome. And I desire to avail myself of this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the officers and men of our army and navy who fought in the Shanghai area and rendered signal service to our fatherland. I also desire to express my profound sympathy with the victims of the bombing incident of April 29th and, particularly, my infinite grief at the death of General Shirakawa, Commander-in-Chief of the expeditionary force.
According to the terms of the agreement, Chinese troops are to remain at a prescribed distance from Shanghai and Chinese forces are to cease as far as it lies within their power all hostile actions in Shanghai and its vicinity. Should action of the Chinese army give occasion for apprehension, the representatives of the four powers, Great Britain, the United States of America, France and Italy, are to ascertain the situation. As long as these terms of the agreement are observed, there is little likelihood, for the present at least, that any fresh disturbances will be caused by Chinese soldiers in the Shanghai district. In these circumstances, it has been decided to call home the whole of our military forces, relying as stated in the declaration of the Minister of War published May 11 upon operation of the agreement and upon such action as friendly powers shall take in order to insure permanent peace in Shanghai. I am sure that the complete withdrawal of our troops will demonstrate, as nothing else could, the truth of the repeated declarations of our Government as to the absence of any political design in our recent expeditions. However, it is the only terms for ending hostilities between the Chinese and Japanese forces that have so far been arranged. No measures have yet been taken to establish [Page 51] permanent peace in the Shanghai district. It is absolutely necessary to take further steps in order to establish such conditions as will enable both Chinese and foreigners in Shanghai to live in safety and pursue their business in peace if the prosperity of this great international metropolis built up by their peaceful labors for many decades is to be maintained. Indeed, if that city could be freed from the menace of such sporadic disturbances of various kinds as have occurred time and again in the past, it would prove a boon not only to its residents, Chinese and foreign, but also to China and all the powers interested in China. I cannot therefore but look eagerly forward to the early opening and complete success of the round table conference which is desired by the Japanese Government and which was contemplated in the resolution of the Council of the League of Nations adopted with the concurrence of China on February 29th.
In Manchuria we note that the new state is making steady progress with fresh zeal and resolute will. I am well aware of the great interest which is naturally manifested by our people in the future of Manchukuo and I believe that it is no longer possible to ignore the existence of that state in any international readjustments which may be made with reference to the Manchurian incident. I believe that it is of the utmost importance for the tranquillity of the Far East as well as for the restoration of the peace and prosperity in Manchuria that the new state should attain healthy growth. Only the new government has not yet reached the stage at which it can command sufficient resources for the restoration of order while the activities of soldier bandits and other lawless elements often instigated from outside are extremely difficult to suppress. Consequently, our troops in Manchuria are compelled to extend their necessary cooperation to the protective functions of the new Government and to guard against any eventualities that might endanger the lives and property of our countrymen or eventuate, in general, disturbances on a major scale. Our profound thanks are due the military and police forces serving in Manchuria in the face of constant danger day and night and at the risk of their lives.
Precedents can easily be drawn from the history of other countries to show that political changes such as have taken place in Manchuria are bound to be accompanied by activities on the part of malcontents and lawless elements even where no external institution comes into play and it takes some time in such cases before governmental machinery of a new state can be fully set in order. I am strongly opposed to any impatient and impetuous attitude toward the progress of events in Manchuria. It is essential to give it time and to address oneself to effecting a sure solution of problems with which we are confronted.
[Page 52]In the course of the present affair, it became necessary for the Japanese army to operate against soldier bandits in North Manchuria for the protection of the Japanese residents there. That we have always paid due respect to the legitimate rights and interests of the Soviet Union in that region and have taken scrupulous care not to infringe or injure them is clearly proved by the conduct of our army. Moreover, the Japanese Government have repeatedly assured the Soviet Government as to the true motive of our advance to the North which does not extend beyond the protection of Japanese life and property. I am certain that the Moscow Government fully appreciates our position. Nevertheless there are some who talk as though there were danger of war between Japan and Russia as a sequel to the Manchuria incident. I am sure I can appeal to the good sense and discernment of our people not to be misled by such rumors.
The League of Nations, as you know, maintained a close watch over developments in Shanghai. During a temporary deadlock in negotiations for the cessation of hostilities, the action of China who laid the matter before the League produced various complications. Nevertheless as the success of the negotiations became practically assured, the League decided to tide over the crisis by relying upon the progress of affairs on the spot. On April 30 the extraordinary session of the Assembly was convoked at which a resolution inviting speedy settlement of the Shanghai negotiations was adopted and the matter was brought to a close. The Japanese Government, as they had previously entered a protest with regard to the application to the Sino-Japanese disputes of Article 15 of the Covenant, expounded the stand thus taken and abstained from voting on the resolution.
As regards the Commission of the League which is engaged in conducting an investigation on the spot, we are extending to it all possible facilities at our disposal in order to help its members to fulfil their mission. I sincerely hope that the Commissioners will form a correct and fair conception of the actual conditions in China and Manchuria.
[The remainder of the address does not deal with Sino-Japanese affairs.]
- Handed to the Secretary of State by the Japanese Ambassador on June 2.↩