Office of the Historian

793.94/7414: Telegram

The Counselor of Embassy in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State

Nanking, November 21, 1935—2 p.m.
[Received November 21—10:30 a.m.]

97. Our 94, November 20, 6 p.m. and 96, November 21, 10 a.m.

1.
Foreign Office spokesman who was apparently under instructions to give out only official versions, this morning described the Ariyoshi-Chiang conference to an officer of the Embassy in terms of Reuter’s despatch which is similar to telegram No. 96 under reference. While [Page 433] avoiding categorical affirmation or denial of report mentioned in our 94, the above-mentioned Japanese Ambassador gave Chiang assurance that no Japanese military action would be undertaken in China except defensive action, he said that the Japanese were restrained from pressing with force for the creation of an autonomous North China by reason of a newly published profession of disassociation from the autonomy movement. He denied that the Chinese on their part had made the reported agreement to demilitarize Hopei and other parts of the North as a quid pro quo to a cessation of Japanese military pressure and said that at no time had the Japanese military in the North delivered any ultimatum concerning their autonomy scheme.
2.
He said Sung Cheh-yuan as well as Han Fu-chu and Shang Chen had declined to participate in the scheme but doubted whether the scheme had actually collapsed. He avoided comment on report that Sung (see Peiping’s 163, November 20, 4 p.m.) had been ordered by Chiang to cease negotiations with the Japanese in the North.
3.
He confirmed as true Rengo’s despatch from Tokyo November 19 to the effect that the Chinese Chargé d’Affaires had indicated to the Foreign Office the Chinese Government’s willingness to discuss Hirota’s three-point program. He said these matters had been under discussion between the two Governments for some time and this report did not mean that China is prepared to give them favorable consideration.
4.
Repeated to Department, Peiping and Tokyo. By mail to Shanghai for the Ambassador.
Peck