793.94/7449: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 29—10:15 a.m.]
116. In response to my request that he clarify newspaper reports regarding recent occurrences in North China, Vice Minister Tang Yu-jen this afternoon commented briefly as follows:
The Chinese Government has confidence in the loyalty of Sung Cheyuan and Han Fu-chu and is in constant confidential communication with them. Sung has not taken up his new appointment and probably fears that if he does the Japanese will redouble their efforts to induce him to declare autonomy of Hopei and Chahar Provinces. The Chinese Government has filed written protest with the Japanese Embassy against the recent military occupation of railway stations at Fengtai and Tientsin but contemplates no other immediate action towards Japan. The Government knows, however, that energetic efforts are being made to promote autonomy movements and that the Japanese militarists are deeply chagrined at failures hitherto. It is said that Doihara has vowed to commit hara-kiri if these efforts completely fail.
When China consented to withdraw two divisions from Hopei in June no undertaking was given not to send further troops into Hopei, but if the suppression of autonomy movements were to be attempted by force Sung’s troops naturally would be used. Conversations are proceeding with the Japanese Ambassador in Shanghai and with Suma in Nanking. No early adjustment of Sino-Japanese controversies can be expected. Repeated to Department and Peiping.