793.94/7326: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
Nanking, October 29, 1935—4
p.m.
[Received October 29—1:45 p.m.]
[Received October 29—1:45 p.m.]
39. My October 25, 3 p.m.
- 1.
- On October 28, 4 p.m. Wang Ching-wei informed me confidentially in reply to my inquiry that the Chinese Government had no reason to expect an early crisis in relations with Japan but that it had no knowledge of the nature of the new joint policy recently adopted by the Japanese Ministries of Foreign Affairs, War, Navy and Finance and that independent action by one of them seemed to him still possible. He said the Chinese Government would continue to pursue the policy it had announced to the Japanese Government last February of conciliation in reference to all outstanding questions exclusive of Manchuria and not involving cession of territory.
- 2.
- An official of the Foreign Office hitherto habitually reticent discussed with two American newspaper representatives on October 28 the possibility that China might temporarily have to abandon the North and the whole coast to Japan.
- 3.
- Although the Japanese question seems to create much foreboding in Chinese official circles the general ignorance of Japan’s intentions makes crystallization of sentiment in regard to policy extremely difficult.
Repeated to Peiping and mailed to the Ambassador at Shanghai.
Peck