793.94/6043: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 15—9:05 a.m.]
254. My 249, March 14, 5 p.m.
1. American Consul General Tientsin reports Japanese Consul General have [has] now lodged further protest with Chairman of the Hopei Provincial Government who in turn has requested Nanking [Page 237] Government’s instruction. Protest reviews statement made in note referred to in my 221, March 7, 4 p.m., that position of the Provincial Chairman is not understood and it is deemed unnecessary to argue the point; that the Chinese authorities are responsible for Shanhaikwan incident and imposed restrictions upon movements of Japanese troops making it necessary for them to occupy Shanhaikwan. Protest denies charge that Japanese are illegally abusing privileges of 1901 protocol; suggests that review of terms and articles of exchange of notes of 1902 will clearly establish that previous contentions of Provincial Government are without any basis of fact; asserts that Mokianchwang is within 20-li zone and that stationing of Chinese troops there violates exchange of notes of 1902; states that Japanese will not consent to stationing of Chinese troops there; that charge that Japanese have individually made use of privileges of protocol of 1901 is ridiculous and not necessary to argue; that construction of trenches at mouth of the Haiho violates spirit of protocol; that trenches are semi-permanent and may not correctly be described as constructed merely for practice and maneuvering; that they are threat to safe communication on the Haiho and that protocol prohibits this; that Chinese offer this excuse only to prevent themselves from being accused of violating protocol; that Chinese seek to shift blame to Japanese who cannot understand this procedure and who cannot tolerate it.
Protest then requests that Chinese quickly correct their illegal actions and reminds them that if any unfortunate consequences arise Chinese will be to blame because of their insincere attitude as expressed in the Chairman’s note.
2. Lockhart states above summary has been obtained from authoritative source and represents main points of protest received by Provincial Chairman from Japanese Consul General on Sunday.66 Lock-hart adds that Chinese are somewhat perturbed over insistence of Japanese in the matter and the reply to [of] Nanking authorities is being anxiously a waited.
- March 12.↩