Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1936, The Far East, Volume IV

793.94/7950: Telegram

The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

Peiping, June 12, 1936—3 p.m.
[Received June 12—2 p.m.]

301. Embassy’s 282, June 4, 3 p.m.

1. The situation in North China is again becoming tense. Sino-Japanese conversations are in progress in Tientsin. Lieutenant General Sugiyama, Vice Chief of the General Staff at Tokyo until March of this year, and Lieutenant Colonel Tanaka, representative of Lieutenant General Itagaki, Vice Chief of Staff of the Kwantung army, arrived at Tientsin June 11. (Sugiyama’s visit was originally scheduled to take place early this year. Reference paragraph 3 of Embassy’s 21, January 16, 4 p.m.^26a) Kuwashima, Director of the Bureau of Asiatic Affairs of the Japanese Foreign Office, also arrived at Tientsin yesterday.

2. It is understood that these officers will visit Sung Che Yuan at Peiping within a day or two.

3. Chinese observers believe that Japanese pressure on Sung is being increased for the purpose of causing him to sign an agreement of significant scope. These observers are of the opinion that the Japanese are not pressing at present for the complete independence of the regime but for an autonomy and for a regularization of Japanese relations with the regime.

4. Japanese reports indicate that the Japanese military continue to contend that the situation in North China is still unsatisfactory because of the threat of Communism, anti-Japanese activities, Chinese attitude toward smuggling, and slow rate of progress in carrying out economic schemes of advantage to the Japanese.

5. The uncertainty existing at present with regard to the relations of the National Government and the Southwest is regarded as weakening Sung’s power to resist Japanese pressure.

6. The attitude of Sung toward the situation in the South appears to be one of merely watching developments. Representatives of the National Government have visited him during the past few days and he has received, according to a reliable source, two telegrams from Pai Chung Hsi severely critical of Chiang Kai Shek. Some of Sung’s civilian subordinates are understood to be in sympathy with the Southwest but it is not known to what end they may attempt to influence Sung.

7. The attitude of Sung’s military subordinates is equally doubtful. They are understood to contemplate armed resistance to the Japanese at some time. Such resistance, however, seems to be doubtful, notwithstanding a report to the effect that Han Fu Chu has recently informed Sung that he will support the latter in armed resistance.

8. These subordinates are presumably displeased that their efforts to prevent Hsiao Chen Ying’s resignation from the mayorship of Tientsin under Japanese pressure have failed. Hsiao is now to [in] the Western Hills, and it seems to be definite that he will not resume his duties as Mayor. It is reported that he has resigned from his other offices also.

9. Chi Hsieh Yuan is now rumored as a possible successor to Hsiao as Mayor. Chi was Military Governor of Kiangsu at one time and is said to be an enemy of Chiang Kai Shek. Chi is understood to have been participating in the recent Sino-Japanese conversations at Tientsin. It is reliably reported that the Japanese have handed the Chinese authorities a list of 19 Chinese whom they do not wish to become Mayor of Tientsin.

10. The bombing incident of May 29 near Tientsin has not yet been made use of by the Japanese so far as known.

By mail to Tokyo.

Johnson

1. Ante, p. 16.