793.94/12463: Telegram
The Ambassador in Japan (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 19—9:35 a.m.]
117. The following memorandum was submitted to me today by the Military Attaché:50
“With reference to the statement by the War Minister in this morning’s papers concerning the ‘replacement’ of units in China, the ‘strengthening of the fighting power of the Japanese Expeditionary Army’ et cetera, a visit to the War Office for the purpose of clarifying the above statement has brought forth the following information:
That the moves contemplated do not necessarily mean either a strengthening or a weakening of the forces in China from a numerical standpoint but rather a reorganization and redistribution with a view to a strengthening of the Japanese forces organically and strategically for the more or less prolonged condition of hostilities which the Japanese High Command now feel lies before them, and that while the moves to this end may well involve the replacement of certain units, it is likely that the units replaced will be those not necessary in the type of operation which they visualize for the future.
When questioned as to whether this statement by the War Minister implied any change in the objectives of the Japanese Army, the officer to whom I spoke stated with considerable emphasis that their objectives remained the same, i. e., the destruction of the Chinese forces opposing them and the anti-Japanese communistic influences in China and he added that the big question at present lies in the decision as to the manner by which these ends may best be achieved”.
Repeated to Shanghai for Hankow.
- Col. Joseph W. Stilwell.↩