793.94/9059: Telegram
The Ambassador in China ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 29—4:30 a.m.]
331. 1. Foreign Office spokesman last night issued following statement to the press:
“Although the responsibility for the outbreak of the Lukouchiao incident does not rest with China, the Chinese Government, anxious to preserve the peace of East Asia, has consistently strived for a pacific settlement through regular diplomatic channels.
The Chinese Foreign Minister has repeatedly proposed that a definite date be fixed for the mutual withdrawal of troops. Unfortunately Japan not only refused to accept the Chinese proposal but persisted in sending large reinforcements to North China.
[Page 282]In the meantime a settlement was agreed upon by the local Chinese and Japanese military authorities. The Central Government raised no objections to the terms of the settlement which were not fundamentally inconsistent with the position it has taken. The extreme forbearance of the Chinese Government in thus endeavoring to preserve peace must be plain to all observers.
On the other hand Japan has not only failed to withdraw her troops but continued to send heavy reinforcements into the Peiping and Tientsin area.
On the night of July 25th the Japanese troops made an unprovoked attack on the Chinese garrison at Langfang during which a large number of Japanese bombing planes were brought into action.
The Japanese further presented impossible demands to the local Chinese authorities and staged a rapid succession of provocative acts in the outskirts of Peiping.
All these clearly indicated that the Japanese are bent on aggravating the present crisis with a view to achieving their sinister designs in North China.
China has exhausted her efforts for peace and the responsibility for future developments in North China rests solely with Japan”.
Sent to Peiping, by mail to Tokyo.