793.94/6221
Memorandum by the Chief of the Division of Far Eastern Affairs (Hornbeck) of a Conversation With the Japanese Ambassador (Debuchi)98a
(3) After exchange of statements with regard to the Kautto incident, the Ambassador then said that he was troubled over the reports in the newspapers of fighting south of the Wall: the papers had said that the Japanese had occupied Chinwangtao; he found that difficult to believe, as Chinwangtao was a port which had an international interest and at which there were troops of various foreign powers; he felt that the report must be in error. The Ambassador went on to say that he did not believe that the Japanese troops had any intention of going to Tientsin or Peiping; in fact, he said, his Military Attaché had information from the Army authorities stating that they had no such intention; but, the Army always added the proviso, “unless the Chinese make it necessary.” The Ambassador said emphatically that he hoped that the Army would manage to confine its operations to the area east and north of the Luan River. Mr. Hornbeck remarked that he hoped so too.
The Ambassador then said that he wished to say something with regard to Viscount Ishii’s visit. (Note: See memorandum (4).99)