793.94/6204: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
357. My 336, April 18, 2 p.m.
- 1.
- I have just seen British Minister who tells me that on evening of the 19th Nakayama came to see him and after talking about unwillingness of Japanese to come south of Wall and difficulty of present situation with hostile forces facing one another, suggested possibility of Lampson bringing two sides together to discuss arrangements for an armistice. Lampson pointed out difficulty of making proposal to Chinese who were attempting to defend their own country and special difficulty attending such a proposal from one of the powers party to League who had passed on question. Lampson reported matter to London.
- 2.
- Chiang Monlin,6 president of Peita University, came to see Lampson on evening of the 20th and stated that on the evening of the 19th there had been a meeting at the military headquarters of Ho Ying-chin at which he, Hu Shih, V. K. Ting and General Yu Hsueh-chung and others had been present and that at this meeting the difficulties of the present situation had been discussed and it was agreed that he should see Lampson and ask whether he would arrange for an armistice between Chinese and Japanese. He referred to Shanghai negotiations as a precedent.
- 3.
- Lampson made following four points to Chiang:
- (a)
- Shanghai agreement was subject of misunderstanding among Chinese, British being accused of secret arrangement with Japanese to wink at Japanese occupation of Manchuria if they evacuated Shanghai.
- (b)
- Any question to be discussed at such a conference should be strictly defined.
- (c)
- On Chinese side official spokesman must be appointed by Central Government.
- (d)
- Question of what friendly powers should sponsor discussions should be settled.
- Lampson told Chiang matter was one of extreme delicacy, that he would report the talk to his Government and that he wanted to discuss matter with me. Chiang said he would report substance of Lampson’s remarks to Nanking and would see him again.
- 4.
- Chiang Monlin came to see Lampson again today, the 22nd, and
stated that Ho Ying-chin had reported Lampson’s four points to
[Page 288]
Wang Ching-wei and to
Chiang Kai-shek and that Wang Ching-wei; had replied substantially
as follows:
- (a)
- All China was grateful for what had been done at Shanghai by the powers and there would be no further chance of a misunderstanding.
- (b)
- Wang agreed suggestion that discussions be limited to cessation of hostilities with no discussion of Manchuria or other questions, Suggested that agreement be verbal rather than in writing.
- (c)
- Wang suggested tentatively that Liu Chung-chieh, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, be Chinese spokesman acting with advice and support of Ho Ying-chin. Wang Ching-wei as Premier would be solely responsible. He is now Chairman of Defense Commission in charge of situation in North and word of Commission is final. Chiang Kai-shek has delegated whole power to Wang Ching-wei. Chiang Monlin stated that when Wang Ching-wei speaks he carries Chiang with him. Ho Ying-chin is Chiang’s representative in the North.
- (d)
- Wang Ching-wei made no comment upon the question of participating friendly powers but referred to Wilden, French Minister, as having expressed willingness to assist in any way possible.
- 5.
- Chiang Monlin stated that he thought a verbal agreement, such as Wang suggested, would be dangerous as being liable to misunderstanding. Lampson told him not only would this be true but he was certain Japanese would insist on a written agreement.
- 6.
- Lampson told Chiang Monlin he would give further consideration to matter.
- 7.
- Lampson and I agreed that matter was one of great delicacy and to be handled with great caution but that if a serious proposal for cessation of hostilities were made it should be transmitted without commitment. He is telegraphing in this sense to London and at same time stating that unless otherwise instructed he proposes to see Nakayama during next few days and refer to his proposal and ask whether he has anything of a concrete character to suggest.
Repeated to Tokyo.
Johnson