Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1937, The Far East, Volume III

793.94/8938: Telegram

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

Peiping, July 23, 1937—7 p.m.
[Received July 23—9:30 a.m.]

285. Embassy’s 280, July 22, 4 p.m.⁷²

1. The military situation today does not differ substantially from that described in the above mentioned telegram. Movement toward the south of troops of the 37th Division apparently continues. Sand bag barricades in the streets of Peiping were removed last night.

2. There is the feeling, which is almost a conviction, that Sung has already agreed to, or will before long agree to those concessions which the Japanese want. The agreement which is rumored as having been signed at Tientsin on July 19 is presumably an agreement in which have been incorporated the details of the clauses of a general character which Chang Tzu Chung apparently signed in Peiping July 11.

3. The clause with regard to suppression of anti-Japanese and Communist activities is regarded as having grave political implications. Local educators regard it as intended, among other things, to end Peiping as the educational center of China as presumably the best Chinese educators of Peiping will not be able to remain here under the fulfillment of that clause. In fact under the guise of suppression of anti-Japanese activities, so many substantial patriotic Chinese might have to go that there would remain only docile puppets.

Repeated to Nanking, Tokyo.

Lockhart

72. Not printed.