793.94/7269: Telegram

The Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham) to the Secretary of State

520. 1. The following is a paraphrase of an interview given to correspondent of the New York Times by Major General Isogai, Military Attaché, Japanese Embassy.

2. Isogai stated that Japan will not tolerate establishment communist government any portion China, Eastern Asia but will act independently to destroy such regime. Japanese Army might assist northern provinces if communistic peril arose. He said that the Japanese Army had been requested several times by Chiang Kai-shek to assist in the anti-Red campaign but he always refused. If Japan acts against Red regime it will not be to assist Chiang Kai-shek but protecting areas bordering “Manchukuo”. He said that there were other organizations in China, evidently having particularly in mind the “Blue Shirts”, which must necessarily be exterminated before it was necessary to meet communistic problems. He expressed grave dissatisfaction regarding conditions North China declaring the pledges made during Japanese military demonstrations last June had not been conformed to. He referred to the recent Luanchow assassinations and stated that investigation made apparent that this was a “Blue Shirt” crime. If the entire political and military situation North China does not improve at an early date in accordance with pledges of last June, Japanese Army must necessarily take appropriate action. Reference was also made to the Sino-Japanese economic developments and five North China provinces with extreme pessimism inasmuch as thus far nothing but talk has resulted. The Chinese had proposed that they develop the district, then it was proposed that there should be a Sino-Japanese development but nothing had been done. The population of North China, terribly impoverished, creating conditions which Japan cannot let continue along “Manchukuo’s” borders. Sweeping changes North China personnel administration seem inevitable before a genuine cooperation feasible, for under present conditions even proposed South Manchurian railway investments must remain [in] that stage until fundamental changes occur. He emphasized the importance of Nanking accepting the responsibility without evasion and if intermediary officials were removed Isogai expressed opinion Nanking thereafter unable dodge responsibility and must deal directly with Japan or North China provinces. He said that despite official denials from Nanking’s Foreign Office that Tangku Truce contained provision establishment air lines Mukden-Peiping-Tientsin, [Page 351] he reiterated that daily service commercial planes would start shortly with Chinese and Japanese planes, aviators alternating through flights connecting North China-”Manchukuo” cities and that the Chinese Government had finally formally agreed to the establishment.

3. This interview in its entirety is being cabled to the New York Times from Hong Kong today.

Repeated to the Legation.

Cunningham