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

893.01 Provisional/1: Telegram

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

Peiping , December 13, 1937—5 p.m.
[Received December 13—1 p.m.]

818. Embassy’s 812, December 11, 3 p.m.¹⁵

1. The victory parade planned for Peiping upon the fall of Nanking postponed.

2. Current reports indicate that the Japanese and Chinese authorities concerned intend to form a regime for the control of at least North China at some time during December or early January but that agreement has not yet been reached with regard to the form and the sphere of control of that regime. Indications of the imminence of a new regime are (a) orders to the Peiping Local Maintenance Society to prepare for dissolution called for December, (b) the forming of a committee of Chinese politicians to arrange for the new regime, (c) the despatch by the Tientsin Peace Maintenance Committee of a circular telegram expressing desire for a new government, (d) Japanese press reports of “spontaneous” desire of the North China population for a new government, (e) increased activity of Chinese politicians.

3. Wu Pei Fu,¹⁶ Tsao Kun¹⁷ and Hsu Shih Chang¹⁸ are mentioned as the most likely persons to head a new regime. Wu Pei Fu is reported, however, to have stated December 11 in the presence of the Embassy’s informant [that] the Administration will not come out until the Japanese realize that they cannot control China by force, that he will not head a puppet regime, but that eventually it will become necessary for him to head a regime which has little Japanese interference. Certain Japanese military are allegedly opposed to Tsao Kun and Hsu because a government under either of them would be so weak that Japanese military would have to participate too extensively in the direction of affairs. General Kita is said to be in favor of a council of some sort for North China as it could be altered subsequently to conform to changing conditions. Kita is reliably reported to have aroused the animosity of a certain Japanese military clique by his comparative moderation. In short, complete agreement seems to be confined at present only to the advisability of forming a regime soon.

4. Information with regard to the military difficulties of the Japanese in Hopei and Shansi continue to be received. An American was delayed several hours December 11 at Hsinlo, north of Shihkiachuang, by an engagement in which a number of Japanese were killed and wounded. This American, who has just come from Shansi, is of the opinion that two-thirds or three-fourths of Shansi are still held by Chinese with the Japanese holding only certain lines of communication and a narrow zone along them. He states that some Japanese troops in Shansi are being withdrawn and that there are reports that the Japanese intend to abandon the province. There are reliable reports that efforts are being made by officers of the Chinese and Communist armies to organize Chinese forces in Hopei. A Chinese from Fangshan, 35 miles southwest of Peiping, claims that there are 30,000 Chinese troops there.

Repeated to the Ambassador, by courier to Tokyo.

Lockhart

15. Not printed. This telegram reported that Chinese school children in Peiping had been ordered to prepare to participate in a parade to celebrate the fall of Nanking (793.94/11576).
16. Chinese Marshal in retirement since 1926.
17. President of China who resigned in 1926.
18. President of China who retired in 1922.