Office of the Historian

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

Peiping, July 12, 1937—1 a.m.
[Received July 11—6 p.m.]

221. Embassy’s 219, July 11, 10 p.m.

1.
An official of the Japanese Embassy states that an agreement was signed at 8 p.m., today [July 11] between responsible military officials providing that: (1) apology by high officers of the 29[th] Army; (2) punishment of the officers of that army responsible; and (3) guarantee of non-recurrence. The Peiping Mayor is reported to have announced for publication, between 8 and 8:30 p.m., that a peaceful settlement had been reached, it being agreed that: (1) the troops of both sides should withdraw to their original lines; (2) both sides should express regrets for the lives lost; (3) steps would be taken to prevent a recurrence of such incidents in future. According to the announcement, the major part of the Japanese forces had already been withdrawn.
2.
The mayor’s announcement is reported to have been withdrawn about 11 p.m., “because of difficulties”.
3.
Firing was audible in Peiping between 10 and 10:30 p.m. A Japanese official claimed that this firing was done by Chinese troops several miles to the north of Marco Polo Bridge, not in contact with Japanese troops, who allegedly are not involved in this new development. The agreement, he held, was still valid. A Chinese official source alleged that the Japanese had broken the reported agreement, which had required their withdrawal, and had renewed attack about 10:15 p.m. He stated that four trains of troops were headed for Fengtai from Mukden and that one of these, with 77 cases of ammunitions had already arrived.

Repeated to Tokyo, Nanking and Shanghai.

Johnson