793.94/7044: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Second Secretary of Legation in China (Atcheson), at Nanking
Washington, June 20, 1935—2
p.m.
51. Your 155, June 14, 11 a.m., paragraph 3.
- 1.
- Please orally inform the Political Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs that the Department of State is appreciative of the information supplied by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in regard to recent events in North China as transmitted through the Chinese Minister in Washington on June 13 and through you on June 14; that the Department is gratified whenever the Foreign Office thus enables the American Legation to report authoritatively on developments likely to be of mutual interest; that on June 18 the Chinese Minister called at the Department and in response to inquiry was given orally a summary of information reaching the Department through other than Chinese sources in regard to events in North China; and that the Department understands that the Chinese Minister has cabled to the Foreign Minister the substance of the information thus communicated to him.
- 2.
- For your own information but not for communication to the Vice Minister, the substance of the information communicated orally to the Chinese Minister here on June 18 is as follows: The British Ambassador had called at the Department to bring to our attention the substance of the information which the Chinese Ambassador in London had communicated to the British Foreign Office, information which appeared to be substantially similar to that which the Chinese Minister had communicated to us. The British Foreign Office had instructed the British Embassy in Tokyo to make certain inquiries of the Japanese Foreign Office. It was our understanding that the Japanese Foreign Minister maintains (a) that no demand had been made, as reported, on the Chinese authorities that the Chinese officials in North China should be appointed only with the approval of the Japanese military; (b) that Japanese troops could not move south of the Wall without the approval of the Emperor; and (c) that no alteration of Japan’s policy in China is envisaged. The Chinese Minister was informed also that we were not at that time contemplating taking any action; that the reports from the Far East were conflicting and changing from day to day; and that it was not clear what attitude the Chinese Government would take.
- 3.
- Repeat to Peiping as Dept’s 177.
Hull