793.94/5594: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
Peiping, October 18, 1932—1 p.m.
1199. Department’s 338, October 4, 1 p.m.
- 1.
- It was and is our collective view that it would be impracticable to propose neutralization of Peiping and environs if and when hostilities become imminent for the reason that it would then be too late.
- 2.
- For this reason it was our collective view, supported by that of our Military Attachés, that such a proposal to be successful would have to be made the subject of prior negotiation.
- 3.
- Having reached this conclusion we considered question of how and when negotiations might be initiated. We concluded that (a) in the absence of immediate threat; (b) our belief (supported by opinion of Military Attachés) that Japanese are loath to confide their military plans in advance, proposal for a change by prior negotiations was out of the question.
- 4.
- With reference to paragraph 3 of the Department’s telegram under
reference:
- (a)
- I have no reason to doubt that Chinese civilian authorities would welcome a proposal for the neutralization of the Peiping area if such proposal were made. Neutralization of the Peiping area would naturally involve neutralization of communications system which centers at Peiping and I have no means of knowing what attitude Chinese military would take towards this proposal. Railways centering at Peiping would become extremely valuable to military should operations on a large scale commence. We have not cared to approach Chinese in this matter lest we create unnecessary panic locally;
- (b)
- I have discussed whole problem with Neville who
desires to be quoted as follows:
[Page 580]
“I am inclined to think that there is no immediate prospect of major Japanese military activities in the Peiping area. At the same time I do not think it would be possible in Peiping to obtain any authoritative statement from the Japanese as to their military plans. Such information could be given only by the General Staff in Tokyo.
Plans for operations which may be worked out by the General Staff are treated by Japanese Army as extremely confidential and it will probably be impossible to obtain any assurance that there would be no military operations in Peiping area or in the event that such military operations should take place, that there would be any region exempt from operations by such Japanese forces as might be placed there.”10
- 5.
- Antecedent of “we” is “interested powers” represented at Tokyo and here.