Office of the Historian

793.94/8248: Telegram

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

Nanking, October 9, 1936—4 p.m.
[Received October 9—1:05 p.m.]

298. Embassy’s 297, October 8, 2 p.m. from Nanking.

1.
I saw Donald this morning who informed me that Japanese Ambassador at his interview with Chiang Kai Shek on October 8, 10 a.m., mentioned outrages against Japanese subjects but that this was the only concrete question discussed. He stated that Chiang had assured Kawagoe of China’s willingness to settle these cases in accordance with international law but added that there were various other matters outstanding between China and Japan and that he would instruct the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs to be ready to resume negotiations with the Japanese Ambassador for a settlement of these issues on the basis of regard for China’s territorial and administrative sovereignty.
2.
Donald stated that he had urged Chiang to bring up question of Japanese violation of China’s sovereignty but that Chiang had replied to Donald in a sense permitting the inference that he was convinced that the Japanese wished to moderate their position and that he did not wish to do anything which might make this difficult for the Japanese. Donald said he did not know how Chiang had reached this conviction but that there could be no doubt that he was so convinced.
3.
I saw the Minister of Foreign Affairs this morning who described the position of his Government saying that on September 23 the discussions with Kawagoe reached a deadlock. He commented on the arrival of Kuwa Shima stating that it was believed that he was sent by Tokyo to give revised instructions intended to moderate the previous attitude of the Japanese Ambassador and that China was now waiting for the Japanese Ambassador to discover the nature of this alleged new attitude. The Minister for Foreign Affairs confirmed Donald’s description of the interview between Chiang and Kawagoe and stated that no concrete proposals were brought up by Kawagoe.
4.
The Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs asked me pointblank whether the American Embassy in Tokyo had approached the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and discussed the Sino-Japanese negotiations. I replied that no such approach had been made. Replying to his question regarding my personal reaction and regarding the American Government’s reaction to the current situation I stated that it was difficult to determine just what was taking place in view of the confusion of information available concerning surface as well as inner considerations involved. I said that insofar as the American Government was concerned its attitude in regard to matters here in the Far East was well known from statements which have been made in the press by responsible American authorities and that this attitude and policy had not changed. At conclusion of the conversation I thanked the Minister for the information which he had given me regarding developments up to date and stated that concerned as it was over the situation my Government welcomed any information which either side might volunteer to give it in regard to the course of events.
5.
In subsequent interviews either with the Minister for Foreign Affairs or with the Vice Minister I propose to make use of the opportunities offered to pursue the line laid down in the Department’s No. 65 of October 7, 7 p.m.
6.
Sent to the Department and Peiping.
Johnson