793.94/8812: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 17—9:50 a.m.]
290. 1. According to a responsible Secretary of the Japanese Embassy, Hidaka yesterday saw Kao Tsung Wu, Director of the Department of Asiatic Affairs of the Foreign Office and stated to Kao that (1) the Japanese Government has the impression that the Chinese Government and in particular Chiang Kai-shek does not realize the gravity of the situation in North China and (2) an additional and very important element of danger has been injected into the situation by “the Communists”, (he implied that he meant the Comintern and the Soviet Government) who are attempting to aggravate the trouble between China and Japan. The Secretary said that Kao who is personally close to Chiang would fly to Kuling tomorrow and attempt to impress this view upon the Generalissimo. The Secretary asked that the information concerning Kao’s proposed visit to Chiang be treated as strictly confidential.
[Page 193]2. In regard to Communistic activities, the informant said (possibly for propaganda purposes) that his Embassy had been told by a high Chinese official that the Chinese Government had been intercepting telegrams from Moscow to agents in China which revealed these activities.
Sent to the Department, Peiping and Tokyo.