793.94/6065: Telegram
The Consul General at Tientsin (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 16—5:12 a.m.]
Local Chinese officials claim Japanese are bombing villages up to a point 13 miles this side of the Wall between Kupehkou and Hsifengkou. Report not confirmed.
Chinese official told me in course of a conversation yesterday that there is no possibility Chinese agreeing establish neutral zone along Great Wall or to complying with Japanese protest concerning alleged violation protocol and 1902 exchange of notes. Notwithstanding Tokyo protestations of desire confine operations to territory outside Wall, Chinese seem convinced it is only matter of time when Tientsin and Peiping areas will become involved, the excuse being massing of troops this side of Wall and alleged violations of 1901 protocol and 1902 exchange of notes. This general belief has increased anxiety among local Chinese. But little credence is placed in reports that Chiang Kai-shek will compromise situation. Chinese generally hold that such a course would mean the complete downfall of any leader however strong he might be. There seems to exist pronounced determination at least among local Chinese officials to yield nothing to Japan whatever the consequences. A Japanese fleet of 8 or 10 vessels is still in the open sea between Tangku and Shanhaikwan.
Both sides admit severe fighting at Kupehkou and Hsifengkou within past few days but there is no confirmation that in engagement between Sung Cheh-yuan65 and Thirteenth and Fourteenth Japanese Brigades 6,000 Japanese were killed and 18 field pieces, 7 tanks and over 5,000 rifles captured. Small groups wounded soldiers have been passing through Tientsin en route Peiping past few days.
- Chairman, Chahar Provincial Government.↩