793.94/8999: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
Peiping, July
27, 1937—1 p.m.
[Received July 27—4:30 a.m.]
[Received July 27—4:30 a.m.]
302. Embassy’s 300, July 26, 10 p.m.
- 1.
- A secretary of the local Japanese Embassy informed a member of my staff at 6:30 this morning that General Chang Wei-fan, managing director of the Peiping-Suiyuan Railway, accepted last night on behalf of the Chinese authorities the two Japanese demands with regard to withdrawal of the 37th Division and that the Japanese Embassy had issued an order that all Japanese residents in Peiping should withdraw to the Legation quarter. He said that he did not expect fighting in the city but that the withdrawal to the Legation quarter was ordered for the purpose of avoiding difficulties between Japanese and Chinese during the process of withdrawal of the 37th Division. A large influx of Japanese nationals into the Legation quarter has been in progress since 8 o’clock this morning.
- 2.
- It has so far been impossible to obtain from Chinese sources confirmation of the allegation that the two demands have been accepted.
- 3.
- A responsible American residing near Hsiyuan informed the [Page 271] Embassy this morning that there is as yet no indication of withdrawal on the part of troops of the 37th Division in that vicinity. No evidence is so far obtainable of preparation by troops of the 37th Division in Peiping to withdraw.
- 4.
- The above-mentioned secretary of the Japanese Embassy called at 11:30 this morning and said that, if the troops of the 37th Division stationed from Papaoshan to Marco Polo Bridge area do not withdraw to Changhsintien by noon today, Japanese military will take military action against them and that, if the troops of the 37th Division in Peiping and at Hsiyuan do not withdraw to west of the Yungting River by noon July 28th, the Japanese military will take military action against them.
- 5.
- When asked what kind of military action will be taken in Peiping, the secretary replied that bombing and artillery corps fire would be avoided if possible. He believed it might be difficult to avoid those kinds of warfare because Japanese troops in Peiping are greatly outnumbered by Chinese troops.
- 6.
- A leading local educator has just informed the Embassy that, according to his understanding, the local Chinese officials have decided to resist the Japanese inside Peiping.
- 7.
- According to the above-mentioned Japanese Secretary, there is one brigade of the 37th Division stationed between Papaoshan and Marco Polo Bridge; two regiments of the division are in Peiping; and one regiment and two battalions of that regiment are at Hsiyuan. It is the opinion of military officers of the American Embassy that there are only about 300 Japanese troops inside Peiping.
- 8.
- Train service between Peiping and Tientsin still suspended as well as telephone communication.
Repeated to Nanking, Shanghai, Tokyo.
For the Ambassador:
Lockhart