793.94/5678: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 4—7:46 a.m.]
4. My 2, January 4, 2 p.m. Japanese General Staff at 3 p.m. today made following statement to Military Attaché:
“Present strength Japanese garrison at Shanhaikwan is brigade headquarters and five companies” (foregoing not for publication).
General Staff continued:
“If Chinese troops and volunteers in Jehol and to south of Wall make no aggressive move there will be none on part of Kwantung Army; if on the other hand the Japanese are attacked at Shanhaikwan or along the Shanhaikwan-Mukden line the Kwantung Army will be forced to take such measures as it sees fit”.
Japanese casualties given as 8 killed, 31 wounded. Japanese estimate following Chinese troops in Jehol: 15,000 old Manchurian troops, 15,000 Peiping troops, 38,000 local volunteers, total 68,000.
There is no truth in the press statement that the Minister for Foreign Affairs sent for five Ambassadors including myself today and assured us that Japan desired to localize the incident. The British Ambassador discussed the situation casually with the Minister when calling on another matter.
Repeated to Peiping.