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The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Chinese Legation 14
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a note of vigorous protest to Japan last night. The note first narrates the preliminary work of destruction as done by Japanese gendarmes in their own quarters and then the distortion of the facts concerning the circumstances preceding the attack in an attempt to evade responsibility for their unwarranted action.
The note further states that the operation of the Japanese troops at Shanhaikwan are clearly the execution of a pre-conceived plan calculated to aggravate the situation and contrary to the promises repeatedly made by the Japanese delegates to the League of Nations.
In conclusion, the note demands the immediate withdrawal of Japanese troops from Shanhaikwan, the prevention of similar occurrences in the future, and the punishment of those Japanese disturbances. It further reserves the right of the Chinese government to claim reparations for the damages sustained by the Chinese.
- Copy of telegram transmitted to the Department by the Chinese Legation on January 5.↩