Office of the Historian

793.94/8194: Telegram

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

Nanking, September 29, 1936—2 p.m.
[Received September 29—10:35 a.m.]

285. My 282, September 26, noon.

1.
This office has obtained from an authoritative source not in the Foreign Office the following partial account of the interview between the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Japanese Ambassador on September 23:
2.
The Japanese Ambassador recapitulated measures which the Japanese Government believed it would be necessary for the Chinese Government to take if Sino-Japanese relations were to be materially improved including (1) elimination of anti-Japanese sentiments from Chinese text books and the suppression of indications of anti-Japan feeling (in this connection the Japanese Ambassador expressed the belief that the dissolution of the Kuomintang would ultimately be necessary but he would not press this at the moment): (2) cooperation [Page 317] of Japanese with Chinese military forces in the suppression of Communist armed forces: (3) the use of Japanese advisers in many departments of the National Government: (4) establishment of direct air communication between Japan and Shanghai. (Informant did not confirm or deny the report I mentioned to him that the Japanese Ambassador demanded creation of completely autonomous government for maintaining the northern provinces,—see Shanghai’s September 28, noon to Peiping.)
3.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs replied that the suppression of Communist armed forces was an internal matter which China could handle itself and, moreover, the problem had practically disappeared and that the establishment of air communication with Japan was a matter of routine business which should be discussed with the Ministry of Communications and not made a matter of diplomatic negotiations.
6 [4].
The Minister for Foreign Affairs then said that in the view of the Chinese Government the improvement of Sino-Japanese relations required the taking of certain measures by the Japanese Government including (1) the cancellation of the Shanghai military agreement of May, 1932 and of the Tangku truce of May 30th [31st], 1933;19 (2) elimination of the East Hopei autonomous government; (3) Japanese support of Chinese measures to check smuggling activities in North China; (4) cessation of indiscriminate flights by Japanese air planes over Chinese territory, and (5) cessation of Japanese interference in East Suiyuan and Inner Mongolia generally.
5.
The Japanese Ambassador appeared deeply incensed at these counterproposals and said that evidently there was no use in continuing the interview. The atmosphere was very strained when the two officials parted.
6.
Informant said that Chiang Kai Shek flew from Canton to Kuling yesterday and may come to Nanking today.
7.
Sent to the Department, Peiping, Shanghai.
Peck
  1. For texts, see Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. i, pp. 217 and 120 respectively.↩