793.94/9075: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 29—12:43 p.m.]
329. I received the following letter dated July 28 from the Japanese Embassy this morning:
“While the Japanese authorities have been exerting their best efforts in trying to reach an amicable settlement of affairs since the Lukouchiao incident of July 7th, it is most regrettable that the successive acts of betrayal on the part of the Chinese troops, especially Langfang and Ku-an-men, have forced us to take steps which we deem necessary for our self-defense.
It is our earnest desire that the city of Peiping should be put aside from the field of battle and, even if the Chinese troops adopt some provocative measures in Peiping and inflict some damage on the Japanese residents properties in the city, we shall take every possible step so that the noncombatants should be able to avoid danger”.
The above letter was apparently despatched before the sudden change in the situation which took place last night.17
Repeated to Nanking.
- General Sung Che-yuan, with his troops, left Peiping; the mayor, Chang Tzu-chung, remained in charge as acting Chairman of the Hopei-Chahar Political Council.↩