793.94/6852: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 2—3:44 a.m.]
57. Reference Legation’s 36, January 25, 5 p.m. It is expected that Chinese and Japanese military officers will begin 3-day conference today at Tatan in western Jehol Province for settlement of question on the basis of agreement already informally reached at Peiping. According to Chinese official source the Japanese interpretation of the boundary will be accepted; that is, the north-south stretch of the Great Wall in southeastern Chahar and a line running from its northernmost point passing east of Kuyuan to the usually accepted Jehol-Chahar boundary; and Chinese troops at present in eastern Chahar will be withdrawn and only Chinese forces acceptable to the Japanese will be allowed to replace them. There is also an unconfirmed report that agreement will be made for opening a motor traffic road between Chengteh and Kalgan running north of the Great Wall. It is suggested here that the Japanese have asked less than they originally intended in order to have favorable effect on Sino-Japanese negotiations understood to be going on at Nanking.