793.94/9242: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:50 p.m.]
389. 1. Mr. Tuan, Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, called this morning and read to me a statement. The following is a reproduction made from notes taken from the original document [Page 355] which he could not leave as he was under instructions to read it also to British and French Ambassadors:
2. “The Chinese military authorities in formulating their general defensive plan, entertain no intention of launching an attack on the Japanese forces now stationed in Shanghai. It is our sincere wish that peace could be maintained in and around that city. While, however, the Chinese defensive forces will refrain from attacking the Japanese forces in Shanghai under the present circumstances the situation would be entirely altered if the Japanese on their side should choose to break the peace either by opening an attack, which would immediately meet with resistance, or by unjustifiably sending any more armed forces to Shanghai. In the latter event, the Chinese defensive forces for strategic reasons cannot permit the Japanese to consolidate their positions from which they might direct assaults on the Chinese Government, but will take the first opportunity to prevent them from disturbing peace and order in Shanghai.
We recall with regret that in 1932 the Settlement authorities should have permitted the Japanese marines and troops to use the Settlement as a base of operations for attacks on the Chinese Army. We hope that the powers concerned, profiting by their past experience, will now take such effective steps as will prevent the Japanese armed forces in Shanghai from using any part of the Settlement as a base of operations or a place of retreat in their clash with the Chinese defensive forces. Should such a contingency unfortunately arise, the Chinese defensive force would be compelled to take such necessary measures against the Japanese combatants in the Settlement as will deprive them of their fighting strength. In such a case it would be clear that responsibility for all the consequences does not rest with China.”
3. I objected to the use of the phrase stating that the Settlement authorities permitted Japanese marines and troops to use the Settlement as a base in 1932, pointing out the Japanese forces there were the defensive forces sent for protection of Japanese in Settlement, and that Settlement authorities took all steps in their power to prevent hostilities spreading within the Settlement area. I expressed the hope that whatever happened the Chinese military forces would take every necessary step not to injure the great number of noncombatant Chinese and foreigners who live in the International Settlement at Shanghai.
4. I believe that this statement was perhaps precipitated by joint appeal made to the Japanese and Chinese at Hankow by the interested Consuls on August 3rd which was followed by a similar joint appeal by interested Ambassadors including myself yesterday evening to Japanese Embassy and Chinese Foreign Office to the end that hostilities might be avoided in the Wuhan area.
5. This statement emphasizes the need for some action to be taken by interested powers along the lines of Shanghai’s telegram of August 3, 10 p.m. or my telegram No. 367, August 4, noon.
Repeated to Tokyo; by mail to Shanghai.